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EUPHRATES 
AND  OTHER  POEMS 


To  My  Friend 
CHARLES  E.  JACKSON 

'V/'OUTH  they  tell  us  is  the  time  of  singing 

*       When  fervid  impulse  warms  the  poet's  heart; 
Naught  of  frost,  that  distant  eve  is  bringing, 
Forbodeth  then  a  frozen  fount  of  art. 

Noon  goes  by,  the  sun  is  westering  ever, 
Yet  swells  thy  fountain  tuneful  as  at  dawn; 

Fresh  and  sweet  as  theirs  when,  from  the  cover. 
Awakened  birds  make  matin  to  the  mom. 

Chorus  they  without  a  voice  of  sorrow; 

No  twilight  mood  is  burdening  their  lay: 
Hinting  never  some  death-darkened  morrow, 

They  joy  as  if  unceasing  shines  the  day. 

Not  for  thee  Castalia's  crystal-flowing. 
Nor  Hippocrene  and  all  the  muses  there; 

But  the  West  hath  somewhat  of  bestowing. 
And  in  her  gift  thou  hast  a  rightful  share. 

Barren  rock  has  nowise  gushed  a  fountain 
Save  as  a  sign,  a  mercy  from  the  Lord. 

Thirsting  ask  we  naught  of  Horeb's  mountain; 
Thy  heart  was  smitten  with  the  spirit's  rod. 

Singer,  may  thy  fountain  long  be  filling 
Abundantly  from  deepest  springs  in  thee! 

Prove  it  from  no  shallow  sources  rilling 
The  surface  song,  the  mere  futility  I 


E  U  PH  RATES 

AND    OTHER    POEMS 


BY 

EDWARD  CLARENCE  FARNSWORTH 


PORTLAND 

SMITH  &  SALE,  PRINTERS 

1916 


'i 


COPYRIGHT  1916 

BY 

n>WARD  CLARENCE  FARNSWORTH 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Euphrates 3 

The  Soldier 21 

May 29 

The  Choice 30 

St.  Francis  of  Assisi 32 

The  Musician's  Memorial  ....  36 
America        .        .        .        .        .        .        .39 

The  Blossom 41 

War  and  Peace 43 

The  Lost  Language 48 

The  Creative  Word 50 

The  Musician 52 

The  Painter          .        ...        .       .  53 

The  Geologist 54 

The  Astronomer 55 

The  Dreamer 57 

The  Philosopher 59 

The  Sculptor        .       .       .       ...  60 

In  the  Woods 61 

A  Vision  of  Progress 63 

Heroes 67 

V 

336127 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Love's  Missile 69 

Mexico 70 

Eternal  Peace 72 

Armageddon 73 

The  Fairy  Ship 78 

Isis 80 

Osiris 81 

Truth 83 

The  Triumph  of  Good       ....  84 

The  Lily 88 

Love's  Garden 89 

Napoleon 90 

Tolstoi 91 

Man  to  Woman 92 

Woman  to  Man 93 

Man  and  Woman 94 

Peace  and  War 95 

Faith 96 

Sky  Witnesses 97 

The  Pleiades 98 


vi 


EUPHRATES 


EUPHRATES 

FAMED  Euphrates,  mystic  river,  in  the  mom 
of  time 
Making  green  the  fruitful  garden  on  whose  happy- 
prime 
Countless  nations,  backward  turning,  gaze  right 

wistfully; 
Tell   me  marvels  thou   hast  murmured   to  the 
ancient  sea! 

Tell  me!  else  I  deem  that  legend  shaped  the  days 

of  eld 
Hoary  ere  the  lords  of  Egypt  famed  dominion 

held; 
Hoary  ere  the  picture  writings  told  the  deeds  of 

man. 
Much  of  good  but  more  of  evil  as  the  ages  ran. 

"Peaceful  was  the  age  of  gold,  this  land  the  home 

of  peace; 
Never  here  the  throttling  wolf  had   dyed   the 

lamb's  white  fleece; 
Never  tooth  nor  fang  of  venom,  never  earthly 

harm, 
Marred  the   pleasures  of  this  valley  bathed  in 

sunny  calm. 
• 

"Brighter   wings    than    bird    could    boast,    and 

themes  for  angel's  ear, 
Mingled  joy  of  harp  and  song,  oft-times  would 

pass  me  near. 


Straight  behind  them  shone  a  pathway  narrowing 

on  to  where 
Whitest  cloud,  or  city  white,  hung  motionless  in  air. 

"Pearl  of  God  in  azure  setting,  sole  amidst  the 

blue, 
Ocean  in  his  treasure  keep  had  naught  to  match 

its  hue. 
Hints  of  Paradise  around  me,  Eden  hints  around, 
Sprang  from  many  a  wayward  seed  light-wafted 

from  her  bound. 

"Man  had  converse  then  with  angels;  his  the  see- 
ing eye 

Blind  in  all  the  after  times  unto  the  vision  high. 

Earth  throughout  was  unto  Heaven  as  a  pliant 
string 

When  the  hand  that  tuned  it  wakes  a  sweetest 
trembling. 

"Soon  to  eastward,  close   by   Eden,  flamed  the 

heavenly  sword. 
And    of   cherubim    the    visage,    and   his   glance 

abroad. 
Where  no  feet  re-enter  did  the  stern  forbidding  burn 
That  the  mortal  learn  the  lesson  who  must  many 

learn. 

"All  my  current  caught  the  glory  as  I  fled  afar 
Blushing   for  the  sin  of  Adam,   mourning  that 

dread  bar. 
Down  unto  my  waters  weeping,  mixing  tears  with 

mine. 
Came  the  twain  from  whom  all  peoples  in  Earth's 

mortal  line. 


"Stars  that  beamed  in  benediction,  now,  in  chill 

reproof, 
Drew  it  seemed  to  distant  regions  from  the  earth 

aloof; 
And  the  moon  in  lessening  kindness  ever  shrank 

from  sight. 
Shrank  from  sphere  to  crescent  thin,  and  then 

withheld  her  light. 

"Here  began  the  heavy  sorrow  making  heads  to 

bow; 
Here  began  the  need  of  labour,  and  the  sweating 

brow. 
Here  the  sacrifice  respected  first  was  wrapped  in 

flame; 
Here  the  sacrifice  rejected  brought  the  deed  of 

shame. 

"  Blood  of  battle,  flow  of  carnage,  oft  have  swelled 

my  tide 
Since  the  blood  of  murdered  Abel  my  green  bank 

beside; 
Well  I  knew  the  omened  future,  drops  to  torrents 

grown; 
Well  I  knew  my  red  pollution,  and  not  mine  alone. 

"Not  a  far,  serenest  vale  but  Cain  would  enter 

there; 
Cain  the  spirit  of  all  strife.     The  lion  from  his 

lair, 
Shape  of  terror,  straight  would  roam,  both  man 

and  beast  his  prey, 
And  the  roar  of  ravenous  things  would  fill  the 

lonely  way. 


"Bartering  the  gold  of  reason,  men  would  choose, 
instead, 

Brute's  unreason  basest  thing  of  spirit-weighing 
lead. 

Judgment  sore  would  overtake  them,  and  the  glut- 
ton's end 

As  in  brutish,  wild  carousal  each  would  other  rend. 

"O  the  wrathful  visitation  when  the  fountained 

deep, 
Risen  in  one  wave  of  ruin,  clomb  the  mountain 

steep ! 
Clomb  the  barren  of  the  mountain  to  the  crusted 

snow, 
Licked  the  white  with  greedy  tongue,  and  thawed 

the  icy  floe. 

"I  myself  was  lost  in  ocean  till  God  stayed  His 
hand. 

And  above  my  stream  was  painted  Noah's  shining 
band. 

In  a  sudden  burst  of  sun  the  curving  wonder 
spread, 

Touching  yon  a  tuft  of  palm,  and  there  the  hil- 
lock's head. 

"Not  a  bird  to  greet  the  promise,  and  at  once 

rejoice; 
Not  a  footfall  by  my  river;  not  a  human  voice; 
But  this  country  is  the  homeland,  and  the  homing 

heart 
Turns  the  creature  homeward  yet  from  Earth's 

remotest  part. 


"So  it  fell,  and  gathered  peoples  lived  the  usual 
way; 

Toil  and  leisure,  pain  and  pleasure  filled  the  new- 
est day. 

Were  men  wiser  of  the  warning?  Did  the  Deluge 
teach  ? 

Why  the  pride  wherein  they  builded  'gainst  its 
future  reach? 

"Multitudes  with  speech  confounded,  speech  unto 

me  strange, 
Forded  once  my  olden  shallows,  through  the  world 

to  range. 
Each  to  his  new-gotten  language  brought  a  ready 

tongue 
Till  the  profitless  outpouring  through  my  valley 

rung. 

"All  fair  Shina's  habitation  yet  should  level  lie, 
And  her  tower  be  made  a  mocking  to  the  passer 

by; 
Babel,  folly  of  the  proud,  for  judgment  should  be 

trod. 
Humbled  thing,  by  humble  things  whose  look  was 

to  the  sod. 

"To  me  blown  great  Nimrod's  triumph  swelled,  a 

stirring  sound, 
When  his  Nineveh  was  reared  and   roofed   and 

walled  around, 
When  the  old  Assyrian  builders  digged  and  shaped 

the  clay, 
Lifted  tier  on  tier  well-hardened  in  the  tropic  day. 


"In  her  need  could  stony  guardian  spread  a  'fend- 
ing wing? 

Graven  bull  or  lion  stay  that  city's  chastening? 

Heeding  well  what  Jonah  spake,  believing  much 
his  word 

She  in  sackcloth  and  in  ashes  long  her  doom 
deferred. 


"When  at  length  a  maddest  triumph  mightily  did 

ring, 
Knew  I  then  that  doom  had  found  her  through 

Chaldaea's  king, 
He  that  did  the  citied  Tigris  with  his  arm  reduce; 
He  that  bent  betwixt  the  rivers  nations  to  his  use. 


"Babylon  with  gates  a  hundred  saw  his  chariots 

forth, 
And  behold,  his  mien  was  fearsome,  for  the  king 

was  wroth. 
Soon  another's  going  saw  I,  soon  his  triumph  near 
While  for  Zion  and  her  Temple  fell  the  captive's 

tear. 


"Where  the  trumpet  and  the  cymbals?    Where 

the  psaltery's  voice? 
Where  the  damsels  with  the  timbrels?      Where 

the  rhythmic  noise 
Such  as  timed  the  song  of  Miriam  by  the  sea's 

expanse 
As  the  daughters  of  the  people  joined  her  in  the 

dance? 


8 


"Once  when,  to  my  bending  willows,  winds  their 

burden  told. 
Harps  of  Judah  mute  were  hanging,  harps  that 

joyed  of  old. 
Every  player's  hands  were  idle  for  his  travailing 

heart 
Held  an  unborn  note  of  sorrow  sadder  than  his 

art. 


"Saw  he,  through  a  mist  of  weeping,  all  of  Israel's 

sin; 
Every  law  of  Sinai  broken  ere  they  entered  in, 
Entered  Canaan,  there  forgetting  all  that  God  had 

wrought. 
For  the  flesh-pots  and  the  idols  backward  turned 

the  thought. 

"To  me  came  Sennacherib  with  remnant  of  his 

host 
Shamed  before  great  David's  city,  shamed  for  all 

his  boast; 
Ere  a  Jewish  spear  could  find  him,  ere  a  Jewish 

sword, 
On  his  midnight  dreaming  fell  the  weapon  of  the 

Lord. 


"Shamed  he  passed  to  his  dominion,  to  his  city 

passed; 
He,  the  taker  of  fenced  cities,  in  his  own  at  last 
Felt  the  pang  he  oft  had  given,  felt  the  steely 

brand 
Mortal  in  the  grasp  of  one  of  parricidal  hand. 


"0  the  end  of  proud  Belshazzar  broken  in  my 

sight! 
In   his   feasting   hall   was   written    *Doom,   and 

Death,  and  Night/ 
Yonder,   where  the  marsh-reeds   tremble   dirges 

ever  drear, 
Rose  his  drunken  revelling  to  Heaven's  oflFended 

ear. 

"  Deep  he  drank  from  God's  own  vessels  foulness 

from  the  pure. 
Even  from  the  golden  vessels.     Why  should  he 

endure  ? 
Drainer  of  the  wine  of  madness,  and  of  every  lust, 
He  provoked  the  arm  that  striketh  even  to  the 

dust. 

"Babylon,  great  Babylon,  of  wondrous  memory; 
Well  engirt  with  double  wall,  a  strong  sufficiency! 
Tyrant  indolent  with  surfeit,  sinewless  with  ease! 
Thou  in  turn  becamest  suppliant  on  thy  bended 
knees. 

"Softness  of  thy  pleasure  gardens  made  thee  weak 
in  war, 

And  thy  dainty  flesh  a  morsel  for  the  ready  maw 

Of  the  hungry  Persian  lion  fit  to  rend  and  slay; 

Fit  to  grind  the  bones  for  marrow  of  his  tooth- 
some prey. 

"Thou  in  Lebanon   a  cedar,  thou  a  shadowing 

shroud; 
How  thy  trusted  limbs  are  broken !     How  thy  top 

is  bowed! 


10 


One,  the  terrible  of  nations,  cleaves  thy  rooted 

trunk; 
Litter  of  thee  fills  the  valley  where  thy  pride  is 

sunk. 

"Welcome  Cyrus,  timely  conqueror;  freedom  to 

the  slave! 
Thou  hast  set  his  face  to  westward;  he  has  crossed 

my  wave 
Singing,  from  his  fullness  singing,  for  his  love  is 

true. 
Singing  of  re-towered  Salem,  Zion  crowned  anew. 

"I  have  seen  the  Macedonian  claiming  god- 
descent. 

Like  a  stayless  god  of  battles  through  the  world 
he  went. 

To  the  Babylonian  wall,  as  to  his  own,  he  came. 

And  its  brazen  portals  turned  at  mention  of  his 
name. 

"Alexander,  son  of  Ammon,  thou  to  empire  bom, 
More  than  thine  through  Grecian  Philip,  more 

than  Macedon! 
Hold  thyself  with  God-like  hauteur,  as  a  throned 

God 
Smite  or  spare  the  cringing  world;  let  fall  or  stay 

the  rod.  • 

"Soon  a  perished  thing  of  dust  they  bore  him 
through  the  gate. 

Funeral  pomp  his  poor  exchange  for  high,  world- 
ruling  state. 

11 


Never  portent  marked  his  end  as  should  for  more 

than  man, 
But    throughout   the  ordered   hour  the  normal 

minutes  ran. 

"Near  me  swords  of  Mithridates  brake  with  clang- 
ing sound, 

And  the  arrows  of  his  archers  fell  upon  the  ground; 

Roman  shields  withstood  them,  and  his  spears  of 
home-thrust  failed, 

And  the  arm  of  Roman  Pompey  mightily  pre- 
vailed. 

"When  my  conquered  valley  saw  the  eagles  of  the 

West 
Gathered  as  the  vultures  gather,  swooping  on  her 

best. 
And  behold,  their  claws  were  iron  and  their  beaks 

a  strength. 
And  their  eyes  devouring  flame,  I  shuddered  in  my 

length. 

"Rome,  aggressive  might!     I  know  of  thine  the 

whence  and  where; 
When  my  birth  was  but  a  legend,  in  the  wild 

wolPs  lair 
Gat  they  fierceness  from  her  breast,  the  wolf  in 

every  vein; 
And   the    children's    children    onward    bear  the 

wolfish  strain. 

"Guided  o'er  me  by  a  glory,  Jacob's  promised  star. 
Passed  the  Magi  to  a  cradle  in  the  lands  afar. 

12 


Wisdom's  crown  their  brows  displaying,  they  with 

searching  gaze 
Well  discerned  truth's  narrow  footway  threading 

life's  dim  maze. 

"When,    in    age-long    retrograde,   in    Pisces   did 

appear 
Yonder  sun,  sky-ruling  King,  the  Avatar  was  near: 
Sky-foretold  one  came  to  rule  the  heart  should  he 

prefer; 
Him  they  sought  with  princely  gold  and  frankin- 

scence  and  myrrh. 

"High  and  gracious  was  their  bearing  whether 
kings  or  no; 

Highest  thrones,  with  such  upon  them,  Hghten 
human  woe 

Till  the  arm  of  slaughter  stays,  and  Herods  cease 
from  gore. 

And  the  children's  blood  to  Heaven  crieth  never- 
more. 

"Calling  men  from  senseless  idols,  and  the  mock- 
ing wine. 

Bidding  such  as  bend  to  many  choose  the  God 
Divine, 

Once  the  Prophet  reached  this  valley  as  the  day 
did  sink. 

And  my  stream  was  his  refreshing  and  his  camel's 
drink. 

"Here  he  pitched  his  tent  at  even,  here,  at  rise  of 

sun. 
Asked  of  Allah  converts  many  'ere  the  hours  be 

done; 

13 


Converts  open   to  the  truth,    or   who   perforce 

receive; 
Pricked  by  conscience,  or  the  sword,  they  cry  *I 

do  believe ! ' 

"Rolls  upon  this  earth  a  river  more  than  mine 

preferred  ? 
Who  hath  known  of  goodly  Jordan,  and  of  me  not 

heard  ? 
On  Messiah  there  descended  once  the  dove  of  God; 
Here  the  sinless  Adam  walked,  communing  with 

his  Lord, 

"There,  on  Nebo,  Moses  died,  the  Promise  well 

in  view; 
Here  methinks  the  meek  inherit  Eden's  garden 

new 
When  man  stays  his  venomed  tongue,  and  serpent 

venom's  cease. 
And  of  strife  the  cause  is  banished,  and  the  world 

is  peace. 

"Often,  as  on  moving  screen,  is  pictured  all  the 

past. 
Scenes  in  truthful  order  crowding,  earliest  to  last; 
Oft  as  one  in  sleep  I  look  believing  things  that 

seem 
Till   the    bare   awaking    comes    to   desolate   my 

dream. 

"Gone  is  beauty's  flowering  time,  and  loveless  is 

the  morn; 
Fallen  is  the  flower  of  Art;  her  faded  leaves  are 

gone; 

14 


Grafted  on  a  Grecian  stem,  and  burst  to  shape 

and  hue, 
Nevermore  upon  my  mirror  she  her  image  threw. 

"Gone  the  jewel-blaze  that  told  a  monarch's  con- 
sequence; 

Looted  is  the  palace  gold,  the  throne's  magnifi- 
cence; 

Crumbled  are  the  pearls  that  shed  the  giving  of 
the  moon; 

Scattered  are  the  gems  that  poured  the  bounty  of 
the  noon. 

"Carven  white  of   alabaster,    and   the  marble 

stone, 
Afric  ivory  ornate,  and  of  the  whitest  bone; 
Malachite  and  precious  woods  to  cunning  uses 

brought; 
Iris-tinted    shrines   of   Belus,    all    are    come    to 

naught. 

"Gone  the  siren  queens  of  beauty,  and  of  magic 
song 

Fit  to  shame  thine  art  Delilah,  weakness  of  the 
strong; 

Fit  to  bind  the  Caesar's  will  as  if  a  pliant  mood; 

Fit  to  change  the  Roman  who  a  siren  queen  with- 
stood.      , 

"Gone   Semiramis,  thy  building,  and,  of  what 

should  be. 
All  thy  dream   fulfilled,  more  fair  than  poet's 

prophecy. 

15 


Shining  domes,  dawn-visited,  and  columns  kindled 
high, 

Long  have  shunned  the  orb  that  flashed  the  morn- 
ing from  his  eye. 

"Stars,  a  twinkle  in  thy  crown  had   quenching 

sumptuous  queen; 
All  thy  loves  and  hates  are  level,  and  their  grave 

is  mean. 
Lain    perchance  in  traveled  ways,  beneath  the 

beaten  crust. 
Favorite  and  foe  resemble  now  their  parent  dust. 

"Men  reject  the  Magi's  wisdom,  scorn  the  sages' 

best 
Touched  not  by  the  surface-seeking  of  the  hurried 

West. 
When  the  sacred  planets  rise  to  sail  the  upper  sea, 
Few   can    tell    what   fruit    they   bear  to   man's 

nativity. 

"Mighty  angel  hosts  are  they  dispensing  weal  or 

woe. 
Meeting  unto  man  the  measure  he  himself  did 

sow. 
Servants  to  the  central  Flame,  they  fight  'gainst 

Sisera; 
Granting  mercy  to  the  just  they  shield  him  from 

afar. 

"Gone  is  Bel  and  gone  is  Anu,  lords  of  earth  and 

Heaven; 
Unto  Sin  and  Shamas  not  a  sacrifice  is  given. 

16 


When  their  very  gods  are  doomed,  how  shall  a 

people  stand  ? 
How  their  kings  maintain  succession  in  a  stricken 

land? 

"Land   king-coveted    through    ages,   mocked  of 

Destiny; 
Overthrown  or  overthrowing,  tribute  land,  or  free; 
Dynasties  unnumbered  rising,  then,  in  giant's  fall. 
Making  these  long  banks  to  shudder,  through  my 

windings  all. 

"Gone  the  glory  of  Al  Rashid;  gone  his  Bagdad's 

prime; 
Gone  his  scepter  from  my  cities  heaped  in  marshy 

slime. 
Gone  whereon  the  rude  barbarian  vented  scorn 

and  rage 
When  the  Mongol  hoards  of  Timur  dyed  my 

annal-page 

"Red  before  with  hue  of  slaughter,  red  again  with 

blood 
When  should  come  the  host  of  Selim  swarming 

through  my  flood. 
Lo,  the  temple  and  the  mosque  give  way  to  things 

unclean. 
And  high  altars  have  their  humbling  in  morasses 

green; 

"And    the  browsing    camel    stays   him   by  the 

treacherous  brink. 
And  the  wild   and  timid  creatures  unmolested 

drink 


17 


From  the  reedy  pools  where  issued,  for  a  king's 

delight, 
Fountains   hanging    in    the    sun    their    curtains 

rainbow-bright. 

"Desolation!     Desolation  by  the  Jew  foretold! 

Desolation  as  of  Sodom  where  no  sheep  make 
fold! 

Lo,  the  owl  disturbs  the  midnight,  and  the  bittern 
feeds 

Where  the  frog  and  lizard  thrive  amid  the  water- 
weeds. 

"Though  the  lean  and  hungry  Bedouin  roam  my 

ruined  place, 
Can  the  desert  nomad  sooth  me  for  my  vanished 

race? 
Empty  was  the  gift  of  Ishmael,  and  his  tribes  are 

naught. 
Mine  achieved  a  fame  outlasting  all  their  hands 

have  wrought. 

"As   for  me    whose  hill-sprung    fountains  once 

toward  Eden  rilled, 
I  shall  see  the  days  of  Daniel  every  whit  fulfilled. 
Michael  in  that  time  of  trouble  on  the  view  shall 

loom. 
And   my  countless  generations  wake  to  joy  or 

doom." 


18 


OTHER  POEMS 


THE  SOLDIER 

FROM  war  thou  retumest  good  Soldier,  from 
war  where  thy  valor  hath  won; 
The  grime  of  the  fight  is  upon  thee,  thou  bronzed 

of  the  tropical  sun. 
Sweet  peace,  thy  reward,  is  accomplished;  soft 

peace,  thy  desert,  is  attained; 
Already  our  fairest  have  chosen,   the  favor  of 
beauty  is  gained. 

Come,  stay  in  thy  footsteps  and  rest  thee!  aye, 

rest  thee  in  love's  blandishment! 
Have  her  voice   and   caress   not   a    magic  that 

bringeth  the  calm  of  content  ? 
O  rest  in  acclaim  of  thy  doing,  and  in  pride  of 

remembrance  live! 
O  pleasure  thy  future  with  riches,  with  the  wealth 

that  ungrudging  we  give! 

"Never  so,  for  when  evils  encompassed,  and  battle 

for  battle  was  due. 
All  stronger  the  heart  that  controlled  me  as  need 

of  such  heart  ever  grew; 
And  firmer  this  arm   in  its  sinews  from  close- 

foughten  fight,  man  to  man; 
And  keener  these  eyes  that  did  question  the  verve 

of  the  on^charging  van. 

"And  when  came  the  sudden,  dread  impact  of  foes 

on  our  fixed  bayonet  steel, 
These  feet  as  in  mortar  were  fast,  and  this  frame, 

as  of  rock,  did  not  reel. 

21 


My   ceasing  from  warfare  unmakes  me;  like  an 

arrow  afar  from  the  string 
I  fall  perhaps  humbled  and  helpless  as  a  bird  of 

incapable  wing. 


"The  task  of  the  soldier  neglected,  my  name  is  a 

thing  of  unworth; 
From  a  star  to  a  stone  its  transforming;  my  fame 

is  bedarkened  of  earth. 
My  name  is  a  meteor  fallen,  my  fame  is  a  meteor's 

glow 
Ground-quenched;  in  the  dust  is  their  dying.    My 

name  and  my  fame;  must  they  so? 


**God  guideth  the  suns  unto  clashing  when  cold 

and  inert  is  their  fire; 
He  causeth  to  flame  their  reviving;  He  granteth 

them  will  to  aspire; 
Then,  rulers   and   kings   of   His  crowning,  they 

clamber  the  infinite  steep; 
Their  journey  no  tempter  shall  stay,  and  their 

eyes  shall  not  darken  in  sleep. 


"But  who  shall  rekindle  the  soldier  if  now,  in  my 

worthiest  time, 
I  pause  in  the  orbit  of  duty,  I  pale  at  the  summit 

of  prime  ? 
And  who  would  permit  the  recrowning  of  one  that 

his  right  throws  away? 
Who  grant  to  him  will  that  surrenders  of  man 

the  true  center  and  stay  ? 

22 


"My  foes  were  my  friends  all  unwitting;  inertia, 

the  bane  of  the  world, 
Is  hid  in  the  peace  that  you   proffer,  the  calm 

where  high  standards  are  furled. 
No  battle  hymn  mighty  to  stir  me,  no  flag  o'er  my 

roused  heart  to  wave, 
But  the  peace  of  the  slave  my  possession,  I  dally 

and  creep  as  the  slave 

"Where  Faith  careth  not  for  true  sight  with  the 

huge,  earthy  round  in  her  eyes; 
Where  Hope  ever  lacketh  an  urge,  since  the  touch 

of  the  sod  satisfies; 
Where  Love  hath  no  sigh  in  her  bosom  for  glories 

star-holden  afar. 
Glories  glimpsed  in  a  dream  of  perfection  which 

things  of  the  waking  would  mar. 

"Not  bringing  true  peace,  but  a  sword,  aye,  a 

sword  to  man's  heart-breaking  need. 
Did  come  my  great  Captain:  thus  only  true  peace 

can  be  gotten  indeed; 
The  peace  of  proud  Ocean  uprisen  that,  meeting 

the  outrushing  tide. 
Subdues  it  and  makes  it  an  ally,  a  wave  of  his 

incoming  wide. 

"The  peace  of  the  planet  that  winneth  a  lone, 
wandering  moon  from  the  dark; 

In  anger  it  steered  straight  upon  her  who  now  is 
the  helm  of  its  bark. 

The  sword  of  the  will  gave  my  Captain  'gainst 
parry  and  thrust  as  of  steel; 

It  stays  and  it  shatters  the  blade  in  the  down- 
cleaving  stroke  it  would  deal. 

23 


"What  onset,  what  clash,  and  what  discord  are 

paining  the  world  with  their  din ! 
Forever  some  issue  contested,  but  when  through 

real  concord  we  win, 
'Tis  a  note  in  a  song  of  our  sphere  yet  to  charm 

all  the  night's  starry  view; 
A  word  of  a  poem  in  the  writing  begun  when 

earth's  morning  was  new; 

"'Tis  a  line  or  a  tint  of  a  picture  which  large  on 
the  canvas  doth  grow, 

A  lineament  grand  of  a  goddess  awaiting  the 
chiseler's  blow. 

The  doubters  and  dullards  are  shrilHng  their  voices 
in  bitter  complain; 

For  lack  of  the  light  they  are  wailing,  'Will  sun- 
shine be  never  again?' 

"Yet  o'er  the  ground-haze  that  so  blinds  them, 

the  noon  in  high  majesty  burns. 
And  God  and  all  angels  are  speeding  the  time 

when  the  close  battle  turns. 
The  onset,  the  clash,  and  the  discord,  the  pain, 

the  insufferable  din. 
These  are  of  to-day,  but  remember:  to-morrow, 

to-morrow  we  win ! 

*'A  soldier,  I  live  in  that  eve  when  from  warring 

I  turned  to  my  rest. 
And  the  beings  that  brightened  my  dreaming,  me- 

seemed  were  earth's  mightiest,  best: 
No  cohort  of  Rome  could  withstand  them,  no 

phalanx  of  Macedon's  pride. 
No  guard  by  the  Corsican  chosen  to  dare  at  the 

Emperor's  side. 

24 


"Far  more  than  of  men  was  that  army,  so  godly 

their  bearing,  so  dread; 
To  all  of  the  soldier  a  pattern,  they  trod  with  the 

conqueror's  tread. 
And  lo,  the  debased,  the  malign;  all  the  blackened 

of  sin  had  their  stand; 
Every  foot  was  the  hoof  of  a  beast,  and  the  claw 

was  in  place  of  a  hand. 

"What  venom  they  spat  from  the  mouth!  and  the 

voice  was  the  hiss  of  a  snake; 
The  eye  had  the  gleam  of  the  lair,  and  the  teeth 

were  to  seize  and  to  break. 
But  the   eye  was  their  sorry  deceiver  who  saw 

themselves  goodly  and  strong; 
A  trumpet  they  heard  in  their  hissing,  the  shout 

of  a  great  battle  song: 

"And  the  mouth  by  its  venom  was  poisoned;  by 
the  teeth  were  they  maimed  unaware; 

Every  hoof  was  down-beating  a  friend,  and  the 
claw  its  own  body  did  tear. 

Before  that  unmasking  of  evil  I  saw  it  with  loath- 
ing and  pain 

As  if  mire  on  the  robe  of  an  angel,  or  on  his  bright 
forehead  a  stain. 

"Meseemed  with  the  future's  clear  vision  I  gazed 

on  the  infinite  Plan, 
And  where  was*  the  victim  of  evil  whom  God  did 

eternally  ban.? 
I  saw,  in  the  vastness  above  me,  the  stars  that 

'gainst  Sisera  fought; 
The  Pleiads'  sweet  influence  I  knew,  and  that 

ever  they  bring  as  they  brought. 

25 


"The  moth  that  misguided  must  perish,  his  good 

having  seen  in  the  fire, 
Obeyeth  but  blindly  a  will  that  from  more  than 

the  stars  lifts  thee  higher; 
The  mother  beast,  fierce  for  her  sucklings,  though 

timid  by  nature  and  weak, 
Revealeth  the  dross  of  a  love  that  shall  turn  to 

the  smiter  thy  cheek. 

"I  saw  the  beginning  of  evil;  in  deep-down  abysms 

of  life 
The    'thine,'    and    the    'mine,'   there  begotten, 

engendered  primordial  strife. 
Then  grossness  of  flesh  seemed  not  vileness,  nor 

yet  did  its  clamorous  call. 
And  evil  as  good  had  its  warrant,  the  law  of  the 

beast  was  for  all. 

"Even  this  in  the  twilight  of  morning,  ere  man 

was  yet  man,  had  its  place; 
Evil  grown   with   his   growing    was   goodly,   for 

always  he  read  but  its  face. 
The  good  of  the  beast  far  behind  thee,  turn  not; 

'tis  an  evil  to  shun ! 
The  good  of  to-morrow  grows  evil  in  rise  towards 

the  all-perfect  One. 

"I  saw  the  fierce  feuds  of  the  savage  who  hated 

all  good  save  his  own; 
I   saw  the  rude  strife  of  the  tribesmen  whose 

weapons  were  barbed  with  the  stone; 
For  those  in  their  own  likeness  fashioned,  they 

pointed  the  arrow  and  spear 
Fit  to  pierce  the  tough  hide  of  the  mammoth,  or 

fell  in  his  fleeing  the  deer. 

26 


"Little  thought  they  of  nakedness  covered;  in 

hunger  they  turned  not  for  food; 
The  human  as  quarry  was  better  than  best  of  the 

forest-born  brood. 
The  uplands  at  war  with  the  valley,  the  clan-calls 

were  wild  on  the  height; 
And  then,  as  from  tread  of  behemoth,  earth  shook 

with  the  shock  of  their  might 

"As   army  did  hurl  upon  army  to  slay  with  a 

patriot  rage, 
For  slaughter  was  duty  and  honor;  the  good  of  a 

barbarous  age. 
I  saw  the  world-conqueror's  glory;  every  man  was 

his  puppet,  his  pawn; 
I  saw  him  all  blood-stained  and  gory  whose  rising 

had  vied  with  the  dawn. 

"That  blood  was  from  heart  of  a  brother;  that 

stain  'neath  his  robe  must  he  wear; 
The  scepter,  the  raiment,  the  splendor!  withal  was 

he  empty  and  bare. 
A  soldier  I  turned  from  the  horror:  my  good,  now 

in  nowise  the  same. 
Had  shrunken  to  evil  that  never  my  heart-willing 

service  should  claim. 

"Then  I  saw  in  the  garden   my   Captain;    the 

deed  of  the  sword  I  beheld, 
But  in  his  reGuke  was  a  summons,  so  I  to  his 

cause  was  impelled. 
My  comrades  as  many  as  hear  not  the  low,  mighty 

word  unto  me, 
Have  yet  for  the  sword-arm  a  duty  while  evil 

shows  harsh  enmity. 

27 


**Then  seeing  that  man  shall  have  sight,  and  that 

evil  hath  glamor  and  glow 
For  a  purpose  we  daily  discover,  and  men  coming 

after  shall  know, 
And  aware  that  it  lives  but  by  thieving,  that  the 

best  of  a  man  is  its  theft. 
That  measured  by  men  and  discarded, 'twill  cease, 

of  its  living  bereft, 

"My  heart  was  aglow  as  the  tinder,  the  torch  at 
the  touch  of  the  flame; 

So  I  cried,  'Make  me  fit  for  thy  fighting,  O  Cap- 
tain of  glorious  fame ! 

Give  me  place,  while  the  world  has  a  bondage,  to 
breast  and  to  bear  in  thy  sight! 

Give  me  place  till  the  day  has  no  shadow,  and 
noon  dawneth  never  to  night!' 

"Since  my  war  is  for  man  in  the  making,  his 

growth  to  Love,  Wisdom  and  Will; 
The  growth  of  the  mind  to  the  matrix  the  soul 

shall  eternally  fill; 
Speak  not  of  your  peace  to  the  soldier;  that  peace, 

if  the  loud  tocsin  swell. 
Shall  find  me  already  a  sluggard  whom  peace  hath 

disarmed  with  her  spell." 


28 


MAY 

MAY,  impatient  for  her  decking, 
Searched  the  early  wood; 
'Neath  the  sere,  autumnal  droppings 
Searched  in  hopeful  mood. 

Where  the  withered  cones  lay  scattered, 

And  the  needled  pine. 
Saw  she  of  the  April  budding 

But  a  tender  sign. 

In  the  sunny  opens  found  she 

Of  the  spring  a  hint; 
Found  but  this,  the  maple  branches 

Wore  a  reddish  tint. 

Not  as  yet  the  slopes  of  hillocks. 

Not  a  breezy  crest. 
Not  a  nook,  or  sheltered  hiding, 

Did  the  spring  invest. 

Ferns  on  mossy  cliffs  were  waving, 

Sprung  from  every  chink, 
But  no  sweet  and  dainty  promise 

Trembled  on  the  brink. 

By  the  brooklet's  mimic  torrent. 

And  its  gradual  fall. 
Rich  and  loamy  soils  betokened 

Grasses  green  and  tall: 

Yet  no  earth-bound  flower  to  freedom 

Reared  its  face  of  white 
As,  adown  the  valley  vista. 

Passed  the  May  from  sight. 


29 


THE  CHOICE 

LIKE  some  venturous  bird  I  soar, 
Free  on  Fancy's  wings  my  flight 
Till  from  heaven  I  explore 
All  the  circle  of  my  sight. 

Lo,  the  mountain  risen  sheer, 
Pathless  ice  and  snows  untrod, 

Lone,  forbidding,  seemeth  near 
As  once  seemed  the  valley  sod. 

Poised  above  the  torrent's  roar, 
Naught  of  mortal  fear  I  show; 

Sailing  to  a  reefy  shore, 
What  of  shipwreck  do  I  know? 

Diving  to  the  whirlpool's  curve, 
There  on  trusty  pens  I  skim, 

Or,  with  never-failing  verve. 
Sink  I  to  the  crater's  rim. 

Now  I  sweep  the  roofing  green 

Where,  in  virgin  solitude, 
No  despoiling  ax  and  keen 

Finds  the  vitals  of  the  wood. 

Nature  rears  to  me  no  bar; 

Man  builds  naught  whereat  I  stay; 
Buoyant  as  a  soaring  car. 

Straight  I  keep  my  chosen  way. 

Circling,  mounting,  poised  in  air, 
Darting,  diving,  as  I  choose, 

What  to  me  is  sordid  care? 
What  of  joy  should  I  refuse? 


30 


How  I  scorn  the  wingless,  all 
Narrowed  to  their  only  place, 

Doomed  below  to  creep  and  crawl 
While  I  roam  the  roomy  space  I 

Stay  I  Such  joys  I  will  not  prize; 

Fixed  on  earth,  as  once  before, 
Let  me  look  with  upward  eyes! 

Asking  this  I  crave  no  more. 

Let  me  seek  the  skyey  goal. 
Heights  that  never  bird  desires. 

Regions  of  the  homing  soul. 

Realms  whereto  the  heart  aspires. 


# 
» 


31 


ST.  FRANCIS  OF  ASSISI 

A  GOD-ENKINDLED  passion  in  me  bums 
So  that,  unworldly,  I  the  world  desire: 
For  just  possession  all  my  being  yearns; 
My  zeal  consumes  me  with  a  growing  fire. 

The  use  of  godless  arms  I  wholly  shun. 

The  ways  of  warring  kings  abjure.     More  mild 

The  means  whereby  my  godly  cause  is  won 
Who  am  no  king,  but  little,  lowly  child 

Of  One  who  maketh  and  unmaketh  kings. 

Because  of  Him,  sweet  poverty  I  choose; 
Because  He  turned  not  from  the  meanest  things, 

Christ  grant  the  meanest  mightily  I  use! 

His  high  humility  confounds  the  high; 

It  looms  majestic  o'er  Pride's  petty  state; 
It  passeth  not  the  hut  and  hovel  by 

To  enter  early  at  the  palace  gate. 

Where  He  the  homeless  laid  His  weary  head. 
Might  barefoot  kings,  uncovered,  lowly  bend. 

The  hands  that  labored  once  for  daily  bread 
Are  'neath  the  nations  even  to  the  end. 

Those  pierced  hands !    O  that  these  two  might  feel. 
Likewise  my  feet,  the  nails,  and  show  each  sign 

Of  holiest  similitude!     I  kneel. 

Yea,  ceasing  not  I  kneel  that  this  be  mine. 

Make  me  to  know  the  pang  of  wounding  spear 
As  thou  hast  known.  Lord  Jesus  crucified ! 

O  may  in  me  thy  Passion  Love  appear. 
My  soul  exalting  when  the  flesh  is  tried ! 

32 


O  may  unto  my  saddened  sight  be  given 
My  Ransom  on  the  sacred  hill  of  pain 

What  time  the  Spirit's  veil  by  death  was  riven 
Whereat  the  Temple  veil  was  rent  in  twain  I 

O  grant  the  brethren  of  my  Table  Round 

A  knighthood  'neath  thy  secret-searching  Eye! 

A  purest  knighthood!     Grant  that  grace  abound 
To  crush  the  carnal  till  in  them  it  die! 

Thy  people  now  are  they,  thy  little  flock, 
The  brothers  Minor  bringing  Gospel  peace. 

Thy  poorest  they,  of  whom  the  proud  make  mock. 
The  workers  for  thy  kingdom's  rich  increase. 

Chaste  poverty,  and  toil,  by  Jesus  blessed, 
And  prayers  and  meditations  manifold. 

And  meek  obedience  are  my  order's  test. 
Deliverance  from  the  godlessness  of  gold : 

Deliverance  from  the  striving  world  and  vain; 

The  world  I  urge  to  deeds  and  vision  new; 
The  world  that  getteth  vanity  for  gain; 

The  world  God  wills  I  leaven  with  my  few: 

The  teeming  world  I  love  for  those  therein. 
Thine  image.  Father!  and  for  brothers  less. 

Fashioned  by  Love,  by  loveless  men,  O  sin! 
Destroyed  in  sport,  or  utter  wantonness. 

Our  brother  Sun,  God-missioned  to  the  dark 
As  thou,  O  Christ!  to  sin's  dread,  doomful  night; 

Our  sister  Moon,  and  each  abysm  spark 

Wherefrom  Love  burns,  a  love-enkindling  sight, 

33 


To  ye  my  heart,  as  unto  every  cloud 

That  drops  the  rain,  or  mitigates  the  noon. 

Our  brother  Wind,  that  'neath  the  grateful  shroud, 
From  some  white  upland  comes,  a  timely  boon; 

Because  God's  creature,  thou  inspirest  love 
As  thou,  our  brother  Fire,  image  of  Flame 

Transcendent,  wondrous.  Light  of  God  above 
Whose  saints  and  angels  magnify  His  Name. 

Our  sister  Water  whom  I  love;  behold. 

My  spotless  Lord  in  Jordan  was  thy  praise. 

Earth,  fruitful  mother  ere  sad  Eve  of  old. 
Mother  of  mothers,  love  to  thee  always. 

Our  sister  merciful  that  lighteneth 

The  spirit  hindered  by  the  body's  weight; 

In  contemplative  love  I  hold  thee.  Death, 

Till,  Heaven-empowered,  thou  comest  soon,  or 
late. 

When  Mercy  bids  thee,  find  me  humble  still. 
Servant  of  servants  in  all  loving  way; 

Obedient  more  that  with  more  pliant  will 
I  do  our  Lady  Poverty  obey. 

Our  Lady  that  alloweth  to  our  need 

Hosen  and  shoon,  the  habit  and  the  cord; 

Our  Lady  making  that  our  souls  do  feed 
On  alms  well-asken  in  Thy  name,  O  Lord ! 

Our  Lady  Poverty !   Beneath  her  feet 
Temptations  lie;  her  hands  are  diligent; 

Her  mouth  with  angels  hath  its  converse  sweet, 
And  much  her  eyes  approve  the  innocent. 

34 


Our  Lady  Poverty,  the  Mother's  choice, 

For  God's  hand-maiden  would  so  humble  be; 

And  therefore,  Lady,  do  our  hearts  rejoice 
In  growing  likeness  to  the  heart  of  thee. 

Our  Lady  Poverty!     Is  she  not  fair 

With  beauty  such  as  lighted  Mary's  face 

When  all  Madonna-like  her  gazing  where 

The  new-born  lay  in  Bethlehem's  manger  place? 

Our  Lady  Poverty!     Hath  she  not  peace? 

Aye,  passing  peace  hath  she.  The  world's  alarm. 
Harsh  to  the  ear,  within  her  heart  doth  cease. 

And  on  her  brow  is  left  a  saintly  calm. 

Our  Lady  Poverty!     Is  she  not  true. 

Albeit  many  ladies  fickle  prove? 
Her  faithful  never  their  devotion  rue 

Since  our  beloved  makes  not  light  of  love. 

Our  Lady  Poverty!     Is  she  not  wise? 

In  lofty  seeking  do  her  own  persist 
For  she  revealeth  to  their  wistful  eyes. 

The  city  of  the  rapt  Evangelist. 

Our  Lady  Poverty!    Her  gifts  are  pure 

And  of  the  King.     To  pride  she  prompteth  not; 

Her  treasures  incorruptible  endure 
When  wrarth  and  judgment  on  this  world  are 
wrought. 


35 


THE  MUSICIAN'S  MEMORIAL 

BARDS  of  old  and  all  dead  singers 
Well  might  deem  thee  of  their  line. 
Thou  couldst  blend  thy  harp's  outgiving 
Even  with  the  Song  Divine. 

Proven  by  an  angel's  fingers 

Ere  entrusted  to  thy  keep 
Seemed  that  harp,  a  thousand-stranded, 

As  its  breadth  thy  hands  did  sweep. 

O  Musician  many-mooded ! 

Noblest  themes  inspiring  thee, 
Ears  would  catch  and  hearts  would  cherish 

Their  compelling  harmony. 

Joy  or  sadness,  grief  or  rapture, 

Seemed  thy  will  for  thou  wast  king. 

Sovereign  of  our  natures  pliant 
As  thy  harp's  obedient  string. 

When  thy  Muse  in  realms  of  fancy 

Wrought  what  e'en  a  touch  might  harm, 

Feared  we  not  of  thee  a  sudden. 
Ruder  hand  to  break  the  charm. 

When  was  stirred  to  mighty  concord 
Art's  broad  basis  reaching  down. 

Thunder-shaken  was  her  rooftree, 
And  her  temple's  domy  crown. 

Radiance  robed  the  doors  and  pillars, 
Unconsuming  flames  curled  high; 

Garlands  they,  their  varied  colors 
Borrowed  from  some  hidden  sky. 


36 


Notes  almost  a  woodland  greeting 
To  the  rose  of  earliest  dawn; 

Limpid  notes  in  measures  winding 
Like  the  brooklet  on  and  on; 

Notes  indeed  a  silvery  echo. 
From  the  misty  stars  a  breath, 

Fainter,  fainter  in  their  falling 
To  a  silence  as  of  death; 

Magic  notes  at  once  unlocking 
Secrets  of  the  midnight  sleep, 

Visions  of  supernal  beauty 

Sacred  in  dream's  central  keep; 

Notes  that  leaped  as  leaps  the  torrent 
Hurling  from  the  mountain  sheer 

While  the  tumult  of  its  falling 
Works  a  concord  in  the  ear; 

Notes  that  seemed  the  moon  a-tremble 
On  the  ruffled  sea's  expanse; 

Nimblest  notes  and  bhthesome  ever 
In  the  measures  of  the  dance; 

Notes  deep-throated  as  the  tempest 
On  the  water's  vasty  breast; 

Notes  that  feigned,  in  merest  whisper, 
Ocean  funken  to  his  rest; 

Notes  of  war  and  soldier  valor, 
And,  withal,  the  drum's  fierce  beat 

To  the  tramp  or  charge  of  armies 
Scomers  of  the  word  —  "retreat!" 


37 


Notes  of  Earth's  millennial  season 
When,  from  out  her  chosen  skies, 

Beams  a  pure  and  peaceful  planet 
In  the  sight  of  angel  eyes: 

These  were  thine,  as,  unto  flaming. 
In  thy  soul  was  fanned  a  fire 

Filling  well  its  mortal  dwelling 
Till  the  immortal  drew  thee  higher. 

Then,  the  lowly  dust  outgrowing. 
Giving  to  Earth  thy  mortal  frame, 

Surely  more  to  us  thou  gavest; 
Cherish  we  thy  goodly  fame. 

O'er  thy  rest  our  love  shall  flourish 
Greener,  taller,  year  by  year 

Till  the  fadeless,  upturned  branches 
To  the  source  of  Love  draw  near. 


38 


AMERICA 

AMERICA,  thou  favored  land! 
When  Nature  purposed  for  the  free, 
On  either  hand  a  wall  should  stand 
Against  the  menace  of  the  sea. 

On  every  shore  a  defending  wall 

Thy  brave  are  fixed,  their  breasts  in  line. 
Slaves  backward  fall,  but  freemen  all 

Advance  with  freedom's  countersign. 

The  mountain  eagle  hath  her  nest; 

Upon  the  crag  she  guards  her  brood; 
Where  none  molest  let  thine  attest 

A  wise  and  watchful  motherhood. 

Thy  soil  the  branching  rivers  vein, 
Thy  towns  supplant  the  wilderness; 

The  wealth  of  plain  and  lofty  chain, 
Vast  millions  in  thy  name  possess. 

Thou  dost  the  peaceful  heavens  invoke. 
And  yet  the  sword  is  on  the  thigh; 

Would  fools  provoke  its  deadly  stroke? 
Then  by  the  sword  they  surely  die. 

Thy  deeds  affirm  love's  mild  intent, 
But  sternest  doing  in  thee  bides; 

If  wrath  have  vent,  thy  skies  are  rent, 
And  torrents  grow  to  whelming  tides. 

Proclaimer  of  the  just  decree 

Should  Nations  seek  thy  judgment  hall; 
On  land  or  sea  flags  strike  to  thee 

When  rings  afar  thy  banner  call. 


39 


America,  thou  parent  one! 

When  Nature  chose  the  worthy  free, 
Preferring  none,  thine  every  son 

She  turned  from  thrones  and  monarchy. 

Ours  to  maintain  the  trust  blood-bought! 

Peace,  Freedom,  Law,  let  these  inspire! 
Attune  our  thought  to  men  who  wrought 

With  shaping  minds  and  hearts  a-fire! 


40 


THE  BLOSSOM 

WAKENED  spring  and  earliest  bird 
Chose  betimes  this  valley  scene. 
Here  the  piney  branches  stirred, 
Wave  on  either  wall  their  green; 

And  the  flowering  banks  are  wed 
Always  to  the  turning  stream 

Till,  in  vista  far,  a  thread 
Silvers  in  the  morning  beam. 

Tell  me  blossom,  tell  me  true ! 

When  December  blasts  were  loud, 
And  the  heavens  refused  their  blue, 

And  the  earth  was  wrapped  in  shroud, 

With  some  strange  fore-knowledge  blest, 

Or  some  instinct  dim  to  me, 
Sawest  thou  thy  beauty  drest 

Even  as  to-day  I  see? 

Sawest  leaden  skies  relent 

Into  April  and  her  tears. 
And  the  May,  with  sweet  intent. 

Wafting  hints  of  former  years  ? 

Sawest  that  in  branches  old, 
Builded  nests  again  would  be. 

Linking  d©ad  loves  manifold 
With  the  living  tenderly? 

Sawest  that  new  songs  would  pour 
Yesterday  from  younger  throats; 

All  that  sunken  winds  upbore 
Present  in  the  latter  notes  ? 


41 


Sawest  that  the  chained  brook, 

Spring-released,  would  wayward  glide. 

Slighting  not  a  valley  nook, 
Bearing  memories  on  its  tide  ? 

Sawest  in  the  deepening  night 

Stars  appear  as  if  new-born, 
Orbs  in  changeless  clusters  bright 

That  on  Eden's  bridal  shone? 

Sawest  from  thine  earthy  bed. 

Walled  with  frost  and  sealed  with  snow. 
Yonder  sun  of  seasons  fled 

Claiming  thee  from  things  below 

Even  as  a  purer  fire. 

Searching  as  of  old  the  heart, 
Draweth  man  from  earth-desire. 

Bettered  in  his  every  part? 


42 


WAR  AND  PEACE 

191S 

DARK  is  the  day  of  our  world-tribulation; 
Armies  and  navies  have  gathered  from  far. 
Ever  the  greeting  of  nation  to  nation 
Grows  in  the  rattle  and  thunder  of  war. 

Keen-kissing  lead  is  man's  touch  of  affection; 

Shrieking  of  shrapnel  his  message  of  love; 
Rose  of  the  night  cloud  his  bivouac's  reflection; 

Stealthiest  airship  his  peace-bringing  dove. 

Waked  are  the  mighty  men;  nowise  they  tarry. 
Stern  is  their  war  song  resounding  and  clear; 

Plowshares  and  pruninghooks  boldly  they  carry. 
Beaten  to  shape  of  the  sword  and  the  spear. 

Brave  facing  brave  the  matched  struggle  presages; 

Forward !  Retreat !  are  the  alternate  shouts. 
Redder  than  furnace  a  swift  torrent  rages, 

Volleyed  from  rifles  and  rolled  from  redoubts. 

Uprisen  hell  at  the  surface  appearing; 

Malice  of  fiends  and  their  murderous  arts; 
Infernal  missiles  in  fiery  careering; 

Poisons  that  stifle,  and  venomous  darts. 

Glaring  of  eyes  in  the  thick  of  the  battle; 

Steel  striking  steel  till  the  bitter  stroke  come; 
Bayonet  and  butt  and  the  end  as  of  cattle 

Trampled  and  gored  by  the  reasonless  dumb. 

43 


Brute  tooth  and  claw  were  a  gentle  possession; 

Brow  of  the  brute  were  a  merciful  gift 
Lessening  the  shame  of  man's  bloody  transgression 

Gathering  weight  that  no  mortal  can  lift. 

Where  are  the  triumphs  of  genius  and  labor; 

Works  that  compelled  the  glad  World's  rap- 
tured eye; 
Beauties  to  bind  the  race  neighbor  to  neighbor? 

Broken  and  burning  thy  flame  to  the  sky. 

On  that  dread  pyre  are  the  centuries  lying. 

All  the  slow  brightening  since  Europe's  dark 
night. 
Leave  them  not  so  till  the  embers  are  dying! 
Snatch  them  and  quench  them,  O  Lord,  in  thy 
might! 

Hastens  the  time  of  an  emperor's  uncrowning? 

Dawneth  the  day  that  deposeth  a  king? 
Were  not  a  prophet  of  fate  and  its  frowning 

Better  than  doubtings  that  gather  and  cling? 

Prowess  of  God  the  old  matrix  is  breaking; 

Continents  shake  to  their  nethermost  stays. 
What  is  the  world  pattern  now  in  the  making? 

Who  shall  possess  to  the  ocean  highways? 

Who  hath  God's  ear  now  the   wise   ones   have 
shouted 

Each  to  the  Throne  his  opinion  of  right  ? 
What  is  their  portion  who  Justice  have  flouted, 

Falsing  the  truth  till  it  bears  not  the  light  ? 

44 


Peace!    Do  we  hear  it?    A  coward  is  crying. 

Peace!    Yet  again;  now  a  saint  supplicates. 
Peace!    Heaven  grants  it;  the  meed  of  the  dying, 

Always  a  soldier  till  death  on  him  waits. 


Peace!    For  the  living  'tis  that  of  the  seaman 
Whelmed  with   his   shot-riddled   pride  of  the 
wave. 

Peace!    'Tis  for  one  who  beholds  the  war-demon 
Shattering  his  rooftree  and  marking  his  grave. 


Never  the  nation  with  annals  unspotted; 

Nowhere  the  country  whose  pages  are  clean. 
Judgment  is  sure,  though  its  times  be  allotted; 

Seasons  of  payment  with  waitings  between. 

Wailed  the  poor  Jew  midst  the  wreck  of  his  city, 
"War  waxing  ever,  Peace  reels  to  her  fall!'* 

So  cried  the  Roman,  when,  empty  of  pity. 

Rushed  the  rude  Goth  through  the  compassing 
wall. 


Withered,  deflowered  when  a  Corsican  terror 
Ravaged  for  glory,  for  greed  and  the  throne, 

Lo!  from  the  ashes,  the  blood  and  the  error, 
Peace,  the  deep-rooted,  re-bloomed  for  her  own. 

Tranquil  the  stars,  but  consider  their  story  — 
Chaos,  then  calm  when  the  aeons  had  run. 

Are  we  not  sparks  of  the  infinite  Glory, 

Destined  as  these  when  our  warrings  are  done  ? 

45 


Cave-cradled  man!  the  brute  beast,  once  thy 
teacher. 

Turned  thee  to  doings  that  still  are  thy  shame; 
But  in  thy  heart  the  hot  rage  of  the  creature 

Ever  is  changing  to  love's  purer  flame. 

Courage  ye  doubters !  The  nations,  grown  wiser, 

Soon  to  the  end  of  their  foolishness  come. 
Peace  shall  have  homage;  the  people  shall  prize 
her 
Championed  of  Reason  though  kings  are  but 
dumb. 

Then  shall  be  dropping  new  wine  from  the  moun- 
tain; 

Milk  from  the  hills  shall  abundantly  flow; 
Forth  from  the  temple  shall  sparkle  a  fountain 

Murmuring  "Peace!"  to  the  valley  below. 

In  the  rich  swales  are  the  herds  without  number; 

On  the  green  uplands,  that  lean  to  the  south, 
Pasture  the    flocks  where  at   night    they  shall 
slumber 

Safe  from  the  claw  and  the  ravening  mouth. 

Gently  the  shepherd  pipe  utters  its  pleading 
Tuned  unto  love  and  all  innocent  joy; 

Never  the  drum  and  the  trumpet  are  leading 
Brothers  turned  haters  with  heart  to  destroy. 

Never  the  sun  in  his  wheeling  discovers 
One  isle  of  ocean  outvying  our  calm; 

Never  the  bird  midst  her  wandering  hovers 
Held  by  a  prospect  more  void  of  alarm. 

46 


Spring  to  the  sower  m  no  way  is  fickle; 

Summer  doth  find  in  his  wheat  not  a  tare; 
Autumn  shall  give  to  his  in-thrusted  sickle 

Acres  of  gold  that  his  household  may  share. 

Ever  the  granaries  teem  unto  bursting; 

Ever  for  fruitage  the  vineyards  are  drest; 
Unfailing  rivers  shall  quench  the  noon  thirsting. 

And  in  the  hush  of  the  even  is  rest. 

O  let  us  rise  from  our  human  gainsaying! 

Earth's  later  peace  every  discord  shall  blend. 
Justice  comes  not  to  our  scales  for  her  weighing; 

Judgment  but  furthers  some  fortunate  end. 


47 


THE  LOST  LANGUAGE 

WHEN  Adam  in  the  Garden  walked 
Ere  words  could  wound,  or  speech 
had  sting, 
In  Love's  first  tongue  with  God  he  talked. 
And  every  creature  owned  him  king. 

No  rage  was  in  the  lion's  heart, 

No  blood  of  prey  dyed  tooth  and  claw; 

Man  showed  to  man  his  better  part, 
Nor  in  his  kind  a  Cain  foresaw. 

Gone  is  that  primal  tongue  of  power, 

Love-language  of  Edenic  days. 
'Tis  drowned  in  discord  of  the  hour, 

Or  lost  in  windings  of  life's  maze. 

And  yet  in  minstrelsy  of  bird 

A  tone  from  some  hid  source  will  swell, 
And  lo!  an  answering  deep  is  stirred; 

But  why,  the  heart  alone  can  tell. 

When  music  gains  sublimest  reach. 
Her  inmost  utterance,  love-divined. 

Hath  somewhat  of  that  primal  speech 
Which  moved  far  more  than  human  kind. 

'Tis  in  that  verse  whose  epic  roll 
The  Greek  and  Roman  bards  awoke. 

'Tis  in  some  lyric  of  the  soul 

Whose  harp-strains  lightest  hands  evoke. 

48 


A  word  IS  in  the  gentle  south 
When  spent  is  every  ruder  blast; 

'Tis  in  the  spring's  melodious  mouth 
When  soars  the  joy  of  winter  past. 

*Tis  in  the  wind  that  strengtheneth 
The  homing  sailor's  hopes  that  rise; 

The  wind  that  wafts  him  with  its  breath 
'Till  he  his  hopes  doth  visualize. 

'Tis  in  the  dancing  upland  rills 
That  know  not  yet  the  dizzy  verge 

Where  all  their  shattered  silver  spills, 
In  turbid  valley  floods  to  merge. 

'Tis  in  the  cooing  of  the  dove 

Mothering  her  young  with  breast  and  wing. 
And  when  with  earlier,  mating  love 

She  builds  her  nest,  a  happy  thing. 

Upon  the  infant's  babbling  tongue 
An  ancient  vowel  makes  appeal; 

Earth  barkened  when  her  brood  was  young. 
And  human  mothers  yet  do  feel. 

When  wisdom  shall  perfect  that  praise 
Which  sucklings  lisp,  not  knowing  why, 

Then  earth  attains  her  crowning  days. 
And  nian  with  heaven  holds  converse  high. 


49 


THE  CREATIVE  WORD 

THE  hidden  Flame,  made  manifest, 
That  kindled  Chaos  and  the  dark, 
The  Word  whose  glory  worlds  attest, 
Bequeaths  to  man  a  living  spark. 

A  spark  to  every  thing  is  given; 

Within  the  lowly  dull  its  hue, 
A  smouldering  fire  till  breath  of  heaven 

Has  blown  it  into  brightness  new. 

The  Word  is  power  within  the  pure; 

The  spirit  self,  it  lifts  the  self 
Of  soul  redeemed  that  it  endure 

As  gold  transformed  from  earthly  pelf. 

To  things  that  breathe  the  Word  is  breath; 

To  man  it  is  the  heavenly  bread : 
Who  eats  in  faith  shall  taste  not  death. 

But  life  wherewith  all  life  is  fed. 

The  Word  wreaths  halo  round  his  brow 
Whose  feet  are  swift  in  duty's  way. 

He  gives  his  best  of  service  now. 
Nor  waits  a  more  convenient  day. 

Who  knows  the  Word,  through  good  and  ill 

Is  never  serving  as  for  hire : 
Refraining  from  his  human  will, 

He  wields  with  might  the  sacred  fire. 

Ere  one  may  syllable  the  Word, 

He  must  mankind's  good  helper  prove 

That,  when  his  tongue  can  be  a  sword. 
His  voice  is  all-attuned  to  love. 


50 


The  key-note  of  the  choiring  sky 
Art  thou,  O  Word!  as  paeans  ring 

From  stars  that  wheel  forever  high 
In  mighty  spiral  round  their  king. 

Thou  soundest  deep  within  the  heart 
A  tone  unsorrowful  and  free; 

Unto  thine  eye  all  veils  do  part, 
And  lo,  the  joys  that  are  to  be! 

O  Root  of  numbers!    Type  of  form! 

Great  Alpha  of  our  human  speech! 
O  Source  of  wisdom's  book  wherefrom 

Inspired  sages  came  to  teach ! 

O  whitest  Glory!    Crystal  Sphere! 

As  in  the  highest,  so  on  earth 
Let  all  thy  seven-fold  light  appear! 

The  crown  of  man's  immortal  birth. 


51 


THE  MUSICIAN 

NO  pleasure  have  I  in  their  methods  crude 
Who  strain   and  wrench  our  Art's  elastic 
bound. 
Soon  bursting  through,  with  heavy  hand  and  rude 
And  strangely  wayward  talent,  these  confound 
Those  not  enamoured  of  discordant  sound. 

And  this  is  music,  this  poor  make-believe; 
This  dissonance  in  harsher  climax  drowned. 
Would  not  the  hapless,  deep  in  Hades,  grieve 
If  thrust  upon  them  that  which  we  in  Music's 
name  receive? 

O  ye  who  in  the  full-orbed  sun  of  Bach 

Melodiously  have  striven  as  for  prize; 
Mozart,  Beethoven,  Haydn,  and  thou  lark 
Sweet  Schubert  rapturing  the  upper  skies! 
And  Handel  flying  as  the  eagle  flies. 

Yet  not  untuneful  as  that  bird  of  wing, 
And  ye  whose  later  measures  harmonize 
With  Art's  most  free  yet  sane  interpreting, 
High-themed  as  his  upon  whose  brow  Wag- 
nerian laurels  cling! 

The  harsh  and  bitter  of  the  world  unsolved, 

Ye  passed  beyond  your  rounded  earthly  days: 
Where  all  of  mortal  discord  is  resolved, 
Ye  lift  the  paean  of  euphonious  praise. 
Should  we  to  worth  unfit  memorial  raise. 

Cacophony,  extravaganza  wild, 
Esthetic  folly,  or  the  passing  craze. 
Or  feeble  doing  of  the  mental  child. 
Or  soulless  work  of  those  on  whom  the  Muse 
has  never  smiled  ? 


52 


THE  PAINTER 

GAZING,  'tis  but  appearance  that  I  see; 
Nature  disguises,  'neath  the  outward  hides; 
Yet,  striving  for  her  hidden  verity 
Wherewith  my  one  ideal  coincides, 
I  hear,  as  if  the  canvas  harsh  derides, 
"Why  grasp  for  that   thou   canst  not  ever 
gain?" 
Instant  my  soul  the  doubting  critic  chides 
And  whispers  me,   "Hope   on,   thou    shalt 

attain. 
Making  to  many  eyes  the  heart  of  Nature 
plain; 

**That  heart  for  which  mere  copiers  never  look, 

Those  heartless  who  of  hearts  have  never  heard; 
Those  slaves  unto  the  letter  of  Art's  book, 
Dull  literalists  who  miss  the  spirit  word 
Whereby  the  painter  is  within  thee  stirred. 

Be  emulous  of  but  the  striving  great 
On  whom  Heaven's  highest  favors  are  conferred: 
Win  thou  the  world's  large,  lasting  estimate! 
Achieve  an  art  sincere,  though  fashions  vacil- 
late!" 


53 


THE  GEOLOGIST 

SEARCHING  the  pages  of  Earth's  record  book, 
That  witness  of  her  immemorial  years, 
In  strata  and  in  leaves  of  stone  I  look 
And  lo,  the  secret  of  the  world  appears, 
Peradventure  known  to  sages  and  to  seers 

Who  yet  in  symbols  taught  mankind's  young  day, 
In  parables  as  fitting  childish  ears. 
Truth  unembellished  had  been  idle  say. 
For  men,  were  they  not  children  in  that  far  away? 

Six  thousand  years  since  Adam  walked  with  God! 

A  hundred  times  six  thousand  were  too  few; 
And  green  as  Eden  was  an  earlier  sod, 
Flood-buried  ere  the  Noahic  waters  grew. 
Flame-seared  ere  Sodom  from  the  heavens  drew 

Her  fate  of  fire.     From  hollow  or  from  plain 
'Twas  later  raised  a  bleak  and  wintry  view. 
The  crown  of  some  far,  looming  mountain  chain 
That  torrents  yet  shall  level,  and  the  wearing  rain. 

Thus  I  translate  what  busy  Nature  wrought. 

Revealed  in  glyphics  of  her  Bible  old. 
Voluminous  ere  man-writ  Bibles  taught 
Both  drossy  fable  and  the  truth  of  gold. 
Ah!  what  strange  chapters  shall  Earth's  book  unfold 

To  after  seekers  of  her  buried  lore 
When  heaving  waters  claim  the  space  I  hold, 
And  Ocean's  bed  becomes  a  fertile  shore. 
And  to  his  secret  caves  the  eager  sunbeams  pour? 


54 


THE  ASTRONOMER 

TO  lift  my  vision  from  this  narrow  place. 
To  look  with  more  than  guess,  or  fancy's 
eye. 
To  know,  denied  those  elders  of  my  race 

The  shepherd  mappers  of  the  Chaldaean  sky; 
To  time  the  motion  of  the  suns  that  fly, 

To  weigh  them,  trace  their  paths,  divine  their 
goal, 
To  learn  their  compound  and  the  bounds  descry 
Impassable  to  their  stupendous  whole; 
Such  is  my  chosen  task  and  my  ambition  sole! 

Far  worlds  and  fair!  'twas  God  conceived  your 
maze; 
His  fingers  knit  your  web  of  golden  light 
More  intricate  the  deeper  do  I  gaze 
To  solve  the  secrets  of  abyssmal  night. 
Even  now  what  wonders  crowd  upon  my  sight! 
The  youthful  orbs  and  those  of  kingly  prime; 
The  old,  a  dimming  luster  past  its  height, 
And  some  unformed  that,  on   the  wheel  of 

time. 
Shall  mount  the  skies  and  with  their  loftiest 
purpose  chime. 

Often  I  ask.  Must  they  be  strange  forever 
Those  beings  who  perhaps  outstrip  our  kind, 

The  star-born  whom  from  us  the  light-years  sever? 
Shall  space  not  yield  to  man's  achieving  mind, 
And  near  and  far  his  high  invention  bind  ? 
Shall  eyes  and  ears  in  unimagined  reach 

55 


Gain  that  whereto  they  else  were  dumb  and 

blind? 
Shall  wiser  worlds  the  poor,  dull  human  teach 
To  force  in  Wisdom's  wall  an  ever-widening 

breach  ? 


56 


THE  DREAMER 

YE  shades  that  woo  me  from  life's  busy  whirl! 
In  your  retreat  the  noisy  crowd  seems  far; 
I  thread  the  hollows  where  the  brooklets  purl 
'Neath  trees  that  to  the  world  are  leafy  bar. 
Here  nature's  concords,  notes  without  a  jar, 

Compel  the  ear,  though  never  they  command; 
No  harsh  intruder  cometh;  none  shall  mar 
This  calm  serenity  with  wanton  hand 
Ready  to  bring  that  reign  of  fear  which  Mercy 
has  not  planned. 

What  woodland  creature  doth  my  pathway  shun? 
What  bird,  that  nests  within  this  branching 
green, 
Forgets  the  confidence  I  early  won, 
And,   shrinking,   shields    him  in  the    bowery 

screen  ? 
The  squirrel  curious,  yet  of  timid  mien, 
With    cautious    movements   nearer,   nearer 
drew. 
Mistrust  departing  from  his  glances  keen 
Till  soon  I  seemed  the  friend  he  always  knew. 
Above  him  as  is  over  man  one  whom  by  faith 
we  view. 

As  like  to  Eden's  heir  of  old  I  walk. 

More  than  the  visible  is  round  me  here. 
Perhaps  to  fancy's  airy  things  I  talk 

That  people  this  dim  wood  and  lend  me  ear. 

The  fairies  of  the  fern  and  flower  are  near, 
The  dryad  dwellers  in  the  hollow  trees; 

Almost  the  naiads  of  the  brooks  appear 

57 


With  wavy  locks  just  troubled  by  the  breeze. 
O  that  their  silver  chime  of  song  my  straining 
sense  could  seize! 

When  Adam  held  dominion  o'er  the  brute, 

'Twas  love  that  lifted  high  his  sceptre  just 
Which,  lowered  by  his  every  base  ofF-shoot, 
Lies  broken  now  and  buried  in  the  dust, 
A  shattered  brightness  coated  deep  with  rust. 
Ah,  could  we  Love's  far,  golden  age  restore, 
Displacing  selfishness  and  all  blood  lust! 
Then  would  a  sovereignty  like  that  of  yore 
Compassion  every  creature   born,   however 
mean  and  poor. 


58 


THE  PHILOSOPHER 

CONNING  the  schools,  exploring,  testing  deep, 
I    chose  whereon  to    rear  my  scheme  of 
things; 
A  stately  pile,  a  shelter  and  a  keep 

Where  Faith  could  rest  her  once  unguided  wings. 
And  quite  forget  her  fruitless  wanderings. 
And  now  should  draw  not  nigh  my  guarded 
door 
That  shape  of  gloom  who  far  his  shadow  flings; 
Grim  Doubt,  whom  I  deep  in  my  heart  abhor, 
Should  wake  no  footfall  echo  on  my  palace 
floor. 

Great  Kant  and  Hegel  and  ye  towering  few 
Clear  outlined  on  the  Grecian  skies  of  old, 
Egyptian  Hermes  and  the  rapt  Hindoo, 
And  ye  that  grub  in  dull  and  earthy  mold 
As  though  such  delving  wins  the  heavenly  gold; 
'Gainst  Doubt  appear!  I  summon  all  your  aid  I 
Relieve  me  of  the  phantom  dread  and  cold! 
What!    by  your  mightiest  was  he  not  laid 
Who  now  defies  my  portal  strong,  with  fore- 
sight stayed  ? 


59 


THE  SCULPTOR 

THE  ugly  and  the  mean  are  but  the  shell; 
Perfection  dwelleth  ever  at  the  core, 
Too  deep,  too  deep  for  eyes  that  see  not  well. 
The  eyes  of  those  unable  to  explore. 
Their  minds'  dull  eyes  not  fit  to  pierce  and  soar, 

But,  on  the  level  of  mere  commonplace, 
To  reach  at  best  the  neither  rich  nor  poor, 
The  almost  outward  of  a  winsome  grace 
Which  often  I  divine  as  Beauty's  form  and 
face; 

Then,  as  the  artist  in  me  prompts  the  hand, 

I  can  perhaps  in  petty  way  reveal 
Some  minor  doing  of  that  Sculptor  grand 
Who  wrought  from  Chaos,  on  the  whole  set  seal, 
And  spake  his  judgment,  beyond  all  appeal, 

That  very  good  the  finished  worlds  might  last. 
Ah,  if  that  Good  I  did  more  inly  feel! 
Then  would  the  mediocre  be  surpassed, 
And  in  some  likeness  of  God's  work  would 
mine  be  cast. 


60 


IN  THE  WOODS 

WHEN  through  the  quiet  woods  I  roam 
And  not  another  draweth  nigh, 
The  happy  creatures  in  their  home 
Untroubled  watch  my  passing  by. 

I  trace  the  squirrel  to  his  tree, 
Or  find  the  fledglings  in  the  nest. 

Or  spy  where  goes  the  laden  bee 
On  tireless  wings  that  never  rest. 

The  woodchuck,  at  his  burrow  yon. 
Sees  nothing  in  my  mien  to  fear; 

Nor  hides  the  rabbit  when  at  dawn 
He  knows  my  early  footfall  near. 

In  deepest  shade  a  pygmy  throng 

Shall  be  my  chosen  company 
When  pipes  the  bird  whose  evensong 

Invests  the  grove  with  mystery. 

A  sylvan  spot  the  dryads  haunt; 

'Tis  there  the  fairy  peoples  dwell. 
Revealed  to  me  in  many  a  jaunt, 

Though  eyes  and  ears  did  little  tell. 

The  pixies  make  me,  at  my  rest. 
The  butt  of  every  harmless  prank, 

And  then  upon  their  lingering  guest 
They  blow  the  twilight  vapors  dank. 

At  once  I  snap  the  silken  strand 

The  bidden  spider  spun  for  me. 
They  thought  to  bind  him  foot  and  hand 

Who  now  to  their  surprise  is  free, 

61 


And,  prompted  by  their  timely  hint, 

Has  turned  him  towards  his  cottage  light 

And,  guided  by  the  moonbeams'  glint, 
Is  hastening  homeward  in  the  night. 


62 


A  VISION  OF  PROGRESS 

WHEN  Earth  was  a  world  in  the  shaping,  her 
Shaper  regarded  her  need, 
So  the  light-bringing  fiat  went  forth,  and  the 

spirits  of  darkness  took  heed. 
On  the  God-lighted  face  of  the  waters  the  beams 

of  the  morning  were  bright, 
But  mark!  since  that  wondrous  arising,  the  earth 
hath  her  day  and  her  night. 

Lo,  the  day  giveth  place  to  the  darkness,  but 

wholly  the  day  shall  have  won 
When  uses  of  darkness  are  past,  and  the  term  of 

its  service  is  done 
In  Nature's  wide,  visible  realm,  and  in  regions  of 

pain  and  despair 
Condemned  to  the  rule  and  the  wrath  of  the 

prince  of  the  power  of  the  air. 

To  him,  even  him,  was  permitted  temptation  and 

plausible  wile 
Since  Adam  the  weakling  must  struggle,  by  evil 

ensnared  for  a  while. 
In  the  net  of  the  fowler  he  strove,  and  we  say, 

"With  a  crumb  was  he  caught;" 
In  the  midst  of  his  bower  was  the  lure,  and  we 

say,  "He  was  tempted  for  naught." 

Though  still  is  the  snare  and  deceiving,  take  we 

heart,  there  is  One  shall  requite; 
He  holdeth  events  in  His  palm,  and  the  aeons  are 

swift  in  His  sight. 

63 


They  compass  the  birth-time  of  nations,  their 
course,  and  the  time  when  they  die, 

Yet  to  Him  of  the  Infinite  Vision  those  times  are 
the  wink  of  an  eye. 

From  Eden  to  Eden  foreknowing,  He  aideth  the 

journey  between. 
From  a  clod  in  the  deep  of  a  vale  to  a  crest  where 

a  city  is  seen. 
Her  branches  do  murmur  a  welcome  with  naught 

of  farewell  in  the  sound; 
Had  she  gates,  they  were  made  for  the  shutting, 

or  walls,  they  were  built  for  a  bound. 

But  nowhere  a  limit  she  suffers,  a  bar  whence  an 

exile  is  driven 
To  measure,  by  heart-empty  weeping,  a  loss  which 

he  values  as  Heaven. 
There  Adam  has  won  his  dominion,  and  Eve  is 

possessed  of  her  own. 
And  the  steep,  stony  uplands  they  weigh  not 

whose  feet  have  attained  to  a  throne. 

O  father  primeval!  your  eating  was  but  for  the 

mouth  of  a  child 
In  knowledge,  world-gotten,  a  babe  overmatched 

by  the  things  of  the  wild. 
O  infant  at  Wisdom's  pure  sources !  a  drop  on  your 

forehead  did  fall; 
O  mortal!  what  Httle  baptizing!  a  drop  of  the 

fount  was  your  all. 

0  Mother  of  races  progressive!  O  parent  of  better 

to  be! 
Could'st  dream  in  your  sorrow  what  promise  was 

plucked  from  the  wondrous  tree, 

64 


Then  cursing  were  blessing  unripened,  the  bitter 

grown  mellow  and  sweet 
When  Time  at  the  flush  of  her  autumn  hath  joy 

in  a  season  complete. 

Not  a  tare  in  the  wheat's  goodly  burden;  not  a 

weed  in  the  wealth  of  the  com, 
Neither  mildew  nor  rot  on  the  grape,  and  the 

apple  is  cheeked  as  the  dawn. 
No  banal  thing  thrives  in  the  marshes,  the  growth 

of  the  pestilent  fails, 
No  jungle  is  gorgeous  with  death,  and  the  upas  no 

poison  exhales. 

Long,  long  are  the  teachings  of  Wisdom,  and 

Eden  did  catch  but  a  word; 
A  syllable  fit  for  its  hearing  from  lips  of  an  angel 

was  heard. 
Through  ages  onmoving,  each  nation  a  line  of  the 

lesson  perceived. 
But  ears  were  untrusty,  and  error  did  share  with 

the  truth  it  believed. 

Lo,  the  seer  and  the  saint  had  high  vision,  and  to 

the  wrapt  bard  would  unroll 
A  leaf  of  the  summing  of  Wisdom,  a  page  of  that 

mystical  scroll. 
In  language  and  meaning  unearthly,  'twas  traced 

by  the  finger  of  God 
For  Earth  when,  aware  of  her  mission,  she  teareth 

her  soul  from  the  sod. 

Fanatics  would  claim  to  decipher,  and  sceptics 

would  dare  to  deny. 
And    bigots    would    hurl    their    anathema,    and 

martyrs  would  show  they  could  die 

65 


For  a  glimpse  and  a  gleam  they  remembered,  per- 
haps as  through  some  palace  door 

Ajar  to  the  ray  that  revealeth  the  source  whence 
a  thousand  might  pour. 

Though  Wisdom  is  long  in  the  getting,  and  knowl- 
edge a  slow-gotten  thing. 

The  toil  and  the  profit  of  ants,  or  the  earning  of 
bees  on  the  wing; 

Yet  knowledge  was  writ  for  the  knowing,  and 
Wisdom  unriddled  shall  be. 

Whether  hid  in  the  dome  of  Creation,  or  sunk  in 
its  nethermost  sea. 


66 


HEROES ' 

HE  has  not  vision,  but  the  surface  view, 
Who  holds  that  Evil  acteth  more  and  more 
its  part; 
That  Virtue  flowers  with  but  the  scattered  few. 
While  SelPs  rank,  loathsome  weed  is  in  the 
common  heart. 

When  swift  catastrophe  of  flood  or  flame 

Has  left  the  homeless  empty  even  of  a  hope. 
When   Earth  yawns,    hungry    and  with  sudden 
claim, 
And  vain  the  mortal  means  which  with  her 
greed  would  cope. 

Heroic  strength  of  gentle  hands  is  by. 
The  voice  of  sympathy  is  balm  and  soothing 
rare; 
The  dews  of  pity  gather  to  the  eye. 

And  strangers  long  at  once  are  neighbors  every- 
where. 

When  some  dread  moment  of  the  tragic  sea 
Has  widowed  wives  and  caused  the  orphan's 
bitter  tear 
To  swell  the  heart-deep  stream  of  misery. 

How  bright  the  lasting  virtues  of  our  race 
appear! 

• 
When  women,  reared  afar  from  peril,  choose. 
With  fixed  devotion  and  no  fear-averted  face, 

»  To  commemorate  the  loss  of  the  steamship  Titanic. 
67 


With  theirs  to  die,  and  sundering  aid  refuse, 

We  prophesy  of  Earth  a  Heaven-resembHng  place. 

The  chivalrous  deeds  of  knighthood's  noblest  days 
Seem  lost  ideals  to  the  unobserving  mind; 

No  errant  champion  threads  the  modern  ways 
To  succor  weakness  and  protect  all  womankind. 

Our  Arthurs  and  our  Sidneys  crave  not  fame; 

Unvalued  heroes  they  until  the  testing  time 
Startles  the  world  and  thrusts  on  them  a  name. 

And  shows  the  soul  within  us  fit  for  things  sublime. 


68 


LOVE'S  MISSILE 

OWHY  so  pensive  little  maid  ? 
The  June  is  round  thee  springing, 
And  both  in  open  and  in  shade 
The  loves  of  June  are  ringing. 

"Ah,  I  have  known  what  eyes  have  said, 
And  heard  a  message  bringing 

Love's  fullness  till  on  me  it  weighed, 
Despite  of  tree-top  singing. 

"If  from  that  fullness  sad  am  I, 

The  half  is  only  seeming, 
Since  now  to  me  is  ever  nigh 

A  scene  that  holds  me  dreaming. 

"Therein  the  moon  of  love  is  high 
And  stars  are  faintly  streaming; 

Declining  day  doth  gently  die 
And  eve  awakes  to  beaming. 

"To  pierce  the  grove  the  Archer  Queen 

A  bow  of  silver  bendeth; 
Her  missiles,  tipped  with  moony  sheen. 

At  trysting  time  she  sendeth. 

"And  though  a  thousand  find  the  green 

And  not  a  leaf  she  rendeth. 
My  heart  there  felt  an  arrow  keen 

From  one  whom  it  defendeth." 


69 


MEXICO 

EVER  the  bloodshed  and  the  strife. 
The  battle's  ebb  and  flow! 
Red  War  is  clutching  at  thy  life 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

Thy  gifts  of  power  and  place  and  rule. 

Mere  shuttles  to  and  fro, 
Find  now  the  wise  and  now  the  fool, 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

And  then  the  fool  in  life's  good  wheat 

The  choking  tares  will  sow 
Till  all  of  scantiness  must  eat, 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

Upon  thy  soil  hath  foreign  greed 

For  empire  dared  a  blow. 
And  scattered  revolution's  seed. 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

Mere  jealousy  and  party  feud 
Full  often  brought  thee  low. 
For  thine  were  careless  of  thy  good. 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

In  times  of  stress,  when  hands  should  clasp, 

Why  would  not  men  forego 
The  fratricidal  sword  to  grasp. 
Unhappy  Mexico  ? 

Intolerance  and  its  duress, 

Of  light  and  truth  the  foe. 
To  darkness  would  the  twain  repress. 
Unhappy  Mexico. 


70 


What  shall  befall  of  war  or  peace 

Alas !  we  never  know, 
Nor  when  uncertainty  shall  cease, 
Unhappy  Mexico. 

O  may  thy  fierce,  unfilial  brood, 

That  ever  works  thy  woe, 
Soon  weld  the  tie  of  brotherhood 
For  weal  of  Mexico! 

Upon  thy  sunless  skies  and  drear 

God  give  the  promise  bow. 
That  yet  the  rising  morn  may  cheer 
A  cloudless  Mexico! 

May  perfect  morn  give  way  to  noon 

And  all  the  midday  glow. 
And  favoring  Heaven  grant  that  boon, 
A  happy  Mexico! 

O  may  that  noon  thanksgiving  raise 

From  e'en  thy  peaks  of  snow, 
And  patriot  song  uplift  in  praise 
An  honored  Mexico! 


71 


ETERNAL  PEACE 

THE  God  of  Peace  first  stirred  the  worlds  to  life. 
To  mighty  throes  of  elemental  flame; 
And  shook  the  planet  in  that  primal  strife 
When  land  and  sea  did  each  of  other  claim. 

Not  on  these  twain  His  Will  doth  wholly  cease, 
Nor  yet  to  fiery  change  His  Word  is  bar; 

The  mountains  waken  from  their  seeming  peace, 
The  earthquake  rends  and  oceans  troubled  are. 

For  passive  peace  what  rousing  could  avail? 

What  other  than  relentless  strife  could  be? 
That  world-old  war  which  doth  in  purpose  fail 

Till  sloth  awaken  to  activity. 

Desiring  peace  how  often  men  have  prayed; 

And  lo!  in  lifted  hands  a  sword  was  thrust, 
And  strength  was  given  to  wield  it  unafraid 

Lest,  idly  hanging,  it  should  suflFer  rust. 

Ah,  when  the  joy  of  ease  is  our  desire, 

And  trouble's  draught  is  forced  upon  the  lips. 

Therein  is  hid  the  potion  we  require, 

Withheld  from  him  who  only  pleasure  sips. 

When  war  and  peace  have  given  each  to  each, 
And  fused  are  they  within  a  common  mold. 

When  power  to  weakness  doth  a  lesson  teach, 
And  firmer  metal  lendeth  verve  to  gold; 

Sweet  from  these  opposites  shall  then  appear 
Earth's  during  peace.  Changed  to  her  very  core. 

Transformed  into  a  heaven-aspiring  sphere. 
She  shows  the  heavenly  likeness  more  and  more, 

72 


ARMAGEDDON 

THE  earth  with  violence  is  filled,  the  warrior 
hath  his  say, 
The  man  of  peace  a  craven  is  whose  words  but 

little  weigh; 
The  camps  are  given  to  cursing  and  the  name  of 

God  in  vain. 
The  fields  are  seared  with  fiery  hail  and  red  with 
battle  stain. 

The  kings  are  drunk  with  slaughter  that  sufiiceth 
not  their  thirst. 

The  captains  would  outdo  the  kings,  and  each 
man  would  be  first; 

The  dungeons  groan  with  cruel  deeds,  the  cap- 
tives quake  with  fear. 

The  widow  grieves,  the  orphan  drops  the  bitter, 
useless  tear. 

Wisdom  is  but  a  fool's  delight  and  folly  seemeth 

wise. 
The  schemer  weaves  a  crafty  web  and  men  are 

but  his  flies; 
Calm  Justice  from  her  base  is  torn  to  fix  an  idol 

there; 
Upon  its  brow  a  poison  wreath  and  serpents  in 

its  hair. 

And  other  idols  lifted  up  do  men  in  reverence 

hold, 
And  one  hath  many  worshippers,  for  men  bow 

down  to. Gold: 


73 


His  visage  comely  is  and  bright,  but  only  from 

the  heart 
Proceeds  that  gift  of  happiness  which  idols  ne'er 

impart. 

Come  forth  ye  strong  and   match  your  might! 

Let  line  on  line  be  hurled 
That  masters  ye,  or  slaves,  may  be  throughout 

the  teeming  world ! 
The  world  that  granteth  goodly  gifts  of  riches 

and  of  place, 
Or  else  denies  all  save  the  scourge  and  scoffing 

and  disgrace. 

Like  greedy  locusts  hither  swarms  the  dense,  far- 
gathered  host. 

Vainglory  on  their  banners  writ  and  every  idle 
boast; 

Vainglory  in  their  challenge  flung  and  boasting  in 
their  call. 

Nor  dream  they  of  the  day  and  hour  when  heavy 
judgments  fall. 

The  day  and  hour  of  portents  due  since  Evil's 

term  is  run. 
And  wrath  is  poured  and  from  the  Throne  a  voice 

proclaims  it  done. 
Hark,  how  the  cannon's  din  is  drowned  as  bursts 

the  heavenly  fire! 
See,  earth  is  riven  to  its  core  beneath  the  heavenly 

ire! 

Where  once  the  islands  of  the  deep,  foams  many 

a  watery  crest; 
The  clouds  that  crowned  the  mountain-tops  have 

nowhere  any  rest; 

74 


Along  the  fronts  of  meeting  war  the  charging 
columns  quail; 

Above  the  losing  fight  they  dread  the  bitter- 
smiting  hail. 

The  cities  of  the  proud  are  judged,  as  Nineveh 

they  die, 
As  Babylon  where  beasts  make  lair  and  midst  the 

ruins  lie; 
Nor  shall  the  flocks  find  pasture  fit,  but,  ever 

turning  thence. 
They  leave  to  creeping,  crawling  things  the  place 

of  pestilence. 

Gone  is  the  in-wrought  ivory,  the  curious  things 

and  fair, 
The  cinnamon   and    frankincense,    the   precious 

woods  and  rare. 
The  purple  and  the  linen  fine,  the  scarlet  and  the 

gold, 
The  pearls  of  hue,  the  gems  of  price  for  which  the 

truth  was  sold. 

Ye  kings  made  drunk  with  slaughter,  and  ye 
creatures  of  your  kings 

Who  choose  not  any  good  of  peace,  but  war's 
most  deadly  things! 

How  are  ye  bruised  and  broken  on  God's  ever- 
turning  wheel ! 

How  are  ye  crushed  in  dust  and  mire  by  War's 
down-grinding  heel! 

Ye  scorned,  for^oth,  the  man  of  peace  whose  face 

was  toward  the  light; 
Ye  nowise  gathered  from  the  dead  who  caught 

the  vision  bright. 

75 


What  gat  ye  from  his  lips  who  calmed  the  Galli- 

lean  sea? 
What  learned  ye  from  the  Indian  sage  whose  life 

was  charity? 

God-Wisdom  seemed  but  foolishness,  and  folly  was 
your  guide, 

You  trusted  to  the  dreadful  brink  where  turns 
the  maelstrom  tide; 

'Twas  there  in  reckless  mood  ye  launched  on  cur- 
rents moving  slow. 

Nor  did  the  helmsman  watch  the  prow,  nor  did 
he  danger  know. 

And  now  in  dizzy  circles  turned,  ye  lift  blasphem- 
ing voice  — 

And  now  the  vortex  whirls  ye  in  and  drowns  the 
hateful  noise. 

Gone!  Gone!  Outbursts  the  welcome  sun  above 
the  vanished  crew. 

And  stricken  Earth  discards  her  weeds  and  dons 
a  garment  new. 

She  dons  a  garment  passing  rich  to  greet  the 

heavenly  bride. 
The  Holy  City  in  whose  midst  shall  love  and 

peace  abide. 
No  rattling  war-drum  marks  the  pace  of  armies 

drawing  nigh. 
Never  the  watchman  from  the  walls  rings  out  the 

larum  cry. 

Than    peace  no  harsher  word  is  framed  where 

soar  both  joy  and  praise. 
And   many  a  sweet  and  yielding  string  Love's 

gentle  will  obeys: 

76 


Sorrows  of  earth  do  wholly  cease  lest,  from  the 

stricken  heart, 
To  mar  the  happy  marriage  day,  some  drop  of 

grief  should  start: 

Or  else  some  clouding  ill  should  rise  from  out  the 

dark  bygone 
To  fix  the  over-anxious  gaze  and  dull  the  bridal 

mom. 
The  time  is  here,  the  bridegroom  near  who  brook- 

eth  no  delay; 
Think  not  that  he,  whose  word  is  pledged,  would 

tarry  for  a  day. 


77 


THE  FAIRY  SHIP 

AUTUMN 'S  on  the  mountain  and  her  torch 
has  fired  the  hill, 
And  her  season  tempts  me  hither.     Let  me  wander 

where  I  will, 
She,  so  lavish  of  surprises,  hideth  many  still. 

Autumn's  in  the  valley  and  a  blush  is  on  the 

stream 
Mirror  of  the  maples  ruddy  as  the  western  beam 
When  it  fills  the  wooded  pathway,  golden  in  the 

gleam. 

Charmed  I  loiter  in  the  hollow:  following  the 
brook. 

Turn  I  with  its  every  turn  through  field,  or 
shady  nook 

Where  the  woven  thicket  stays  my  curious  out- 
look. 

Yonder  falls  a  ripened  leaf  till  on  the  tide  afloat; 
Dancing  by  me,  light  it  passes  as  a  fairy  boat. 
Light  as  that  wee  thing  which  sporteth  in  the  sun 
a  mote: 

Light  as  is  its  haunting  shadow  on  the  mirror 
clear. 

Light,  so  light  a  breath  will  wreck  it  is  my  sud- 
den fear, 

For  a  little  wind-cloud,  growing,  ever  draweth 
near. 


78 


Dainty  ship,  if  eyes  had  seeing,  what  would  mine 

behold 
As  you  shoot  the  tiny  rapids  and,  in  passage  bold. 
Shun,  as  if  by  happy  chance,  their  dangers  mani- 
fold? 

To  some  helmsman  you  are  given,  to  his  master- 
ing hand: 

He  it  was  that  deftly  shaped  you;  he  the  venture 
planned. 

Spreading  then  your  sail  of  crimson  by  the  zephyrs 
fanned. 

Painted  craft,  were  I  but  fairy  I  should  see  him 

now, 
King,  or  prince,  or  just  a  sailor  pointing  sure  your 

prow 
Midst  the  rocks  and  swirls  and  foaming  nigh  to 

either  bow. 

He  hath  treasure  in  his  keep  for  some  fay  prin- 
cess fair. 

Sunny  glitter  for  her  bosom,  moonbeams  for  her 
hair; 

So  he  chooses  all  his  passage  with  a  pilot's  care. 

Onward  ship  to  calm  awaiting  in  the  pool  below! 
Naught  of  hazard  lurks  beyond  it  in  the  current's 

flow. 
Therefore    bom  voyage,    my    beauty  I    Onward, 
onward  go! 


79 


ISIS 

THE  ancient  Wise  from  common  eyes 
Their  mystic  lore  concealed, 
The  precious  page  whereon  the  sage 
Life's  hidden  laws  revealed. 

Those  laws  have  worth  for  more  than  Earth, 

Aye,  for  yon  orbed  sun 
Who  rides  and  rides  on  etheric  tides 
Till  some  far  port  is  won. 

Inspired  Seer!  when  far  is  near 

Shall  yonder  voyager  bright. 
Worlds  in  his  wake,  the  port  forsake 

To  drift  in  Kosmic  night  ? 

Who  then  shall  mark  his  lonely  bark 

If,  North  and  South  forgot, 
All  lines  are  crossed,  the  poles  are  lost 

And  time  is  dialed  not? 

Thus  saith  the  Wise,  "My  inner  eyes 

Behold  creation's  Pole, 
The  fixed  North  that  first  gave  forth 

The  Egg  from  whence  the  whole. 

"That  Germ  unseen  is  Isis,  Queen; 

Stars  veil  her  mystery. 
Until  she  call,  her  children  all 

Achieve  their  destiny. 

"No  orb  is  free  from  her  decree. 

When  summoned  are  her  brood, 
Time  being  done,  each  homing  one 
Attests  her  motherhood." 


80 


OSIRIS ' 

IN  Egypt's  culminating  years 
Upon  her  sons,  a  favored  race, 
Osiris,  Father  of  the  spheres, 

Looked  down  from  His  high,  polar  place. 

Beside  a  valley  sand-bestrewn 
A  pile  He  saw  that  firm  should  stand 

Till  drained  the  springs  of  Nile,  and  noon 
Burns  evermore  a  rainless  land. 

Behold  a  tyrant's  tomb!    we  say, 
A  mountain  to  his  mountainous  pride! 

What  myriads  did  the  lash  obey 

That  safe  his  mummied  shell  might  hide! 

Not  so!  We  wrong  who  bade  uprise 
The  ponderous  granite  tier  on  tier; 

Were  never  kings  both  good  and  wise 
Beyond  the  bounds  of  old  Judaea  ? 

From  where  the  Dragon  balanced  hung, 
And  Wisdom  coiled  the  pole  around, 

Osiris  winged  a  beam,  heart-sprung. 
Until  His  temple's  heart  was  found. 

In  vain  the  shaft  from  whence  by  day 
The  Mighty  once  was  seen  to  burn. 

No  star  is  moveless,  so  His  ray 

From  its  own  temple  heart  did  turn. 

»  Osiris  was  the  secret  name  of  Alpha  Draconis,  the  pole 
star  of  2170,  b.  c,  then  visible  through  the  shaft  of  the 
Great  Pyramid. 

81 


Then  shadowed  was  great  Egypt's  noon 
And  Isis,  Mother,  Queen  of  night, 

A  glory  waning  as  the  moon. 
Upon  Her  altars  shed  not  light. 

No  more  in  crpyt  and  cavern  taught, 
The  Secret  Science  languished,  died. 

The  priest,  the  seer,  the  mage  were  not; 
The  warrior  slumbered  by  their  side. 

High  wisdom  fled  the  ruined  hall, 

Devotion  shunned  the  crumbling  fane; 

But  this  to  Egypt  in  her  fall, 
"Thy  Star,  Osiris,  comes  again! 

"  Proud  Rome  despoiled  in  losing  fight, 
Her  crown  the  North  shall  wear  a  while. 

Then  wins  the  West  her  cyclic  right 
To  yield  the  kingdom  back  to  Nile." 

When  shall  the  flame  by  Time's  decree 
Re-consecrate  the  chamber  lone? 

When  shall  the  twisting  Dragon  be 
The  guardian  circle  of  the  Throne  ? 

Wouldst  ask  that  carven  Riddle  old. 
By  Nile  impassive,  grim  and  grey? 

To  none  hath  she  the  secret  told; 
Nor  smiles  she  lest  her  smile  betray. 


82 


TRUTH 

WHAT  mean  disguise,  what  garb  of  earth 
High  Truth  has  donned  in  low  descent 
Till  men  behold  a  questioned  worth 
Wherein  but  few  can  find  content! 

Should  I  assert  my  little  say? 

Should  I,  forsooth,  intolerant  be 
Who  glimpse  of  Truth  a  tiny  ray 

That  other  gazers  fail  to  see  ? 

If  thy  belief  to  me  hath  fault. 
Or  mine  to  thee  seem  wholly  wrong, 

Will  Truth  in  earthly  progress  halt 
While  over  creeds  we  quarrel  long? 

And  what  is  creed  but  Truth  of  God 

With  one  or  many  veils  aside. 
Or  void  of  brightness  as  the  sod, 

Because  from  heaven  sundered  wide? 

And  what  at  best  is  creed  but  this. 
To  draw  some  height  of  Glory  down ! 

But  puny  man  must  wholly  miss. 
In  utmost  reach,  that  Glory's  Crown; 

The  hidden  Light  no  eye  hath  found; 

Effulgence  of  the  Eternal  Throne 
By  darkness  barred  from  angels  round; 

The  Truth  as  shaped  by  One  alone. 


83 


THE  TRIUMPH  OF  GOOD 

BEYOND  the  wide  ocean  of  waters  outbreaks 
the  loud  tumult  of  strife; 
It  sounds  in  the  bugler's  call  and  the  drum's 

fierce  awaking  to  life; 
Unreached  are  our  senses,  our  ears  they  are  dull, 

but  the  heart,  knowing  all, 
Grieves  over  the  woe  of  the  battle,  the  pangs  of 
the  fated  that  fall. 

The  roar  of  the  volley  it  heareth  when  the  guns 

on  the  battlement  flash; 
At  shock  of  the  thunders  it  seeth  the  deed  of  the 

lightnings  that  crash; 
Midst  welter  of   blood    there  is  slaughter,   for 

nations  in  death-grapple  strain 
Remorseless  as  waves  when  the  tempest  is  lifting 

the  wreck-littered  main. 

Beyond  the  wide  ocean  of  waters  Ambition  doth 

work  his  desire. 
And  armies  are  drawn  to  war's  furnace  to  perish 

as  stubble  in  fire; 
Proud   monarchs  look  on  at    the   burning  and 

minions  are  coaxing  the  flame. 
And  Goodness  and  Mercy  are  outcast,  and  Peace 

lieth  shrouded  in  shame. 

Men  brave  the  mad  billows  of  trouble  to  sink  in 

the  sea's  bitter  brine. 
Or  they  gain,  after  sleepless  endeavor,  the  land  of 

the  corn  and  the  wine; 

84 


They  suffer  the  heat  of  the  forge  and  they  writhe 

on  the  anvil  of  pain 
Till  hammered  to  creatures  misshapen,  or  else 

to  a  possible  gain. 

Some  make  the  world  hard  for  its  dwellers  and 

pray  the  great  God  to  approve; 
They  know  not  He  reigneth  All-Father,  Dispenser 

of  Justice  and  Love: 
Mere  offerers  up  unto  Baal,  some  trust  in  a  clamor 

of  words, 
And  some  with  the  righteous  are  counted,  yet 

their  eyes  are  a  thrusting  of  swords. 

All  this,  and  the  times  are  not  shortened.    Remain- 

eth  some  vial  of  wrath 
With  war  running  over,  and  ready  to  pour  on  the 

visited  earth? 
And  what  if  the  rain  be  withholden  ?    And  what  if 

the  torrents  descend  ? 
And  what  if  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  flare  forth 

and  the  thunderbolts  rend  ? 

Enough!   See  the  morning  unruffled,   the  even 

refusing  to  frown. 
And  calm  and  unchanged  and  unchanging  the 

orbs  of  the  night  looking  down ! 
His  ills  unto  eyes  all-beholding  are  but  straws  in 

the  way  of  man's  rise, 
A  swerve  in  the  sweep  of  his  cycle,  a  blur  in  the 

blue  of  his  skies, 

A  jar  in  the  'wheels  of  world  progress,  a  jolt  in 

the  journey  of  time, 
A  tare  in  the  wheat  of  Hfe's  harvest,  a  fault  in  the 

turn  of  its  rhyme, 

85 


A  sudden  note  false  from  the  harp-strings,  a  thorn 

midst  the  roses'  array, 
A  grain  in  the  flesh  of  the  mollusk  that  purest  of 

pearl  shall  o'erlay. 

Lo!  these  are  the  matters  that  vex  us,  even  these 

are  the  things  that  amaze; 
But  when,  from  the  peaks  of  our  progress,  down 

through  the  long  journey  we  gaze. 
The  scales  from  our  eyes  fallen  off,  and  the  light 

of  God's  Truth  all  about, 
And  the  skies  of  our  faith  cleared  forever  that 

gloomed  in  the  valley  of  doubt; 

Ah!  then  with  the  searching  of  stars,  aye!  indeed 
with  the  vision  of  day. 

We  pierce  to  a  purpose  unthwarted  though  moun- 
tains should  rise  in  the  way; 

A  purpose  that  maketh  man's  labor  the  price  of 
his  eating  of  bread 

Lest,  haply  he  prove  but  a  weakling,  a  sluggard 
that  loveth  his  bed : 

A  purpose  that  portions  his  duty  and  fitteth  the 

hand  to  the  deed. 
And  broadens  the  breasts  of  the  mighty,  and 

strengthens  their  hearts  to  succeed 
Till,  even  from  seasons  of  failure,  they  rise,  or 

from  utter  defeat. 
To  know  in  misfortune  a  teacher  and  see  in  the 

bitter  the  sweet; 

A  purpose  that  rears  on  the  ruin  a  better  than 

yesterday's  best. 
And  then  is  that  better  a  promise  of  better  as  yet 

unexpressed; 

86 


A  purpose  that  humbled  the  oceans  till  Eden  was 
brought  into  view, 

A  purpose  that  plants  in  the  olden  an  Eden  befit- 
ting the  new: 

A  purpose  that  moldeth  of  Adam  a  being  most  fit 

for  the  skies, 
And  thwarteth  the  scheme  of  the  author,  the 

framer,  the  father  of  lies; 
A  purpose  that  wresteth  from  evil  a  good  hidden 

deep  in  its  core. 
And  turns  even  war  to  a  weapon  achieving  a 

peace  to  endure. 

Across  the  wide  ocean  of  waters  outbreaks  the 
loud  tumult  of  strife; 

It  sounds  in  the  bugler's  call  and  the  drum's  fierce 
awaking  to  life; 

But  the  One,  the  Eternal,  is  tranquil.  His  calm- 
ness transcendeth  our  mood; 

All  things  of  all  time  hath  He  written,  and  lo!  at 
the  end  thereof,  "Good." 


87 


THE  LILY 

A -FIELD  I  wandered  wondering  what  flower 
Revealed  thy  beauty,  or  perhaps  thy  grace. 
In  wood  and  open,  midst  the  summer's  dower, 

I  sought  suggestion  of  thy  form  and  face. 
The  rose  too  deeply  blushed  upon  her  tree 

And  every  whitest  thing  lacked  stateliness; 
Then,  eager  even  as  the  honey  bee. 

In  richest  meadows  I  would  yet  possess.  ' 

Despite  the  wealth  of  mead  and  wood  and  field, 

Mine  was  an  ever-unrewarded  quest. 
Often  we  journey  to  some  distant  yield 

And  lo,  the  nearest  bounty  is  the  best. 
So,  in  my  garden  daily  now  I  see 
A  tallest  lily  typical  of  thee. 


88 


LOVE'S  GARDEN 

HOW  like  a  summer-radiant  flower  art  thou, 
Sequestered  in  Love's  garden  fair  and  green ! 
Yon  cloud  would  dull  the  beauty  of  thy  brow 

And  rob  thy  shining  hair  of  heavenly  sheen. 
Come  forth  to  find  the  sunny  spread  of  sky ! 

Come!  Naught  shall  match  the  redness  of  thy 
lips : 
Their  parting  doth  the  blossomed  buds  outvie 

That  lure  the  bee  who  only  nectar  sips. 
Come  forth  lest  haply  Autumn  seek  thy  shade! 

O  why  apart  who  yet  for  love  wast  born  ? 
Forsake  then  and  forget.     Thy  heart  is  made 

For  sweet  companionship,  thy  heart  of  morn. 
Come  forth  that  in  thine  eyes'  celestial  hue 
Celestial  deeps  may  find  a  mirror  true! 


89 


NAPOLEON 

DEFECTS  and  virtues  both  in  thee  did  meet, 
Else  thou,  beneath  thy  star  of  destiny, 
Hadst  brought  indeed  the  boon  of  Hberty 
To  lands  king-ridden.     Ah,  'twas  thy  defeat 
That  thou  didst  reach  for  prize  too  mortal  sweet. 
And  in  thy  grasp  a  cheating  crown  would  see. 
Though  Europe  longed  for  freedom  ne'er  to  be 
Shouldst  thou  in  duty  fail  her  far.     Complete, 
Some  day,  shall  be  the  triumph  of  thy  star, 
The  God-enkindled,  beaming,  without  bar. 
On  heroes  of  the  hush  and  of  the  roar. 
High  heroes  chosen  when  Earth's  need  is  sore; 
One  perfect  hero :  him  of  Gallilee, 
And  many  lacking;  heroes  like  to  thee. 


90 


TOLSTOI 

TO  shame  the  Tartar  'neath  the  Russian  skin, 
He  showed  a  kindly,  just,  and  peaceful  life 
Prevailing  more  than  war  and  bloody  strife. 
His  voice  of  love  shall  sound  when  dies  the  din 
Of  fruitless  anarchy;  shall  enter  in 

The  heart,  and  pang  the  tyrant  as  a  knife. 
And  soothe  the  oppressed  as  never  voice  of  wife. 
Or  child,  or  sympathy  of  nighest  kin. 

When  Russia,  risen  to  her  day,  doth  stand. 
Her  friendly  palm  within  the  peasant's  hand. 
Though  blind  from  birth,  she  then,  with  sight 
God-given, 
Shall  know  her  chiefest  and  most  filial  son. 
Not  wholly  wise  and  faultless,  but  the  one 
That  furthered  well  the  purposes  of  Heaven. 


91 


I 

MAN  TO  WOMAN 

TEACH  me  thy  heart  that  henceforth  I  possess 
Life's  better  portion  through  my  years  of  life. 
Love  would  I  daily  learn  of  thee,  good  wife 
And  teacher;  all  its  mightful  gentleness 
Should  dower  one  lacking  till  that  gift  doth  bless. 
Though  in  the  world  my  powers  of  mind  have 

weight. 
And  men  of  lesser  grasp  do  count  me  great. 
Before  the  bar  of  Love  I  stand  loveless 
If  thou  withhold.     Then  am  I  judged  of  God, 
And  thou,  likewise  blameworthy  in  His  sight, 
Shall  knowrebuke  and  the  lone,  sorrowful  night 
Of  His  averted  face.     So  to  the  sod 
We  dwindle.     We,  intended  for  the  skies. 
Must  walk  the  way  whose  end  we  but  surmise. 


92 


II 

WOMAN  TO  MAN 

THINE  IS  my  heart  since  naught  or  all  is  thine; 
But  that  thou  hast  which  should  the  gift 
enhance, 
The  setting  for  the  gem  most  fit.     Perchance 
Thou  givest  not,  yet,  rich  through  what  was  mine. 
Thou  shouldest  so  from  wisdom's  wealth  divine 
To  man  bequeathed.    Teach  me  the  wiser  look 
That  never  thy  good  mind,  a  riddle  book. 
Attract  but  to  refuse  me  page  and  line. 

I  fear  lest,  knowing  wisdom  not,  I  turn 
To  narrowing  things  of  self  and  sense  alone; 

The  things  to  change  a  love  of  sweetest  name 
To  love  estranged.     Ah,  then  in  me  shall  bum 
No  heart-pure  sacrifice,  but  doubtful  flame, 
Perhaps  to  worthless  gods  of  wood  and  stone. 


93 


Ill 
MAN  AND  WOMAN 

BY  mutual  need  conjoined,  and  mutual  aid, 
Unto  life's  issues  bringing  mutual  powers, 
Forecast  we  better  than  these  present  hours. 
Of  things  outgrown  our  yesterdays  are  made, 
To-morrow's  rise  will  prove  this  morn  a  shade. 
A  deep-down  likeness  each  in  other  seeing, 
We  grow  unto  that  unity  of  being 
Revealed  in  part  to  Adam  when  he  said, 
"His  father  and  his  mother  man  shall  leave, 
And,  one  with  her,  unto  his  wife  shall  cleave." 
Some  universal  tie  our  bond  foreshows. 
Some  oneness  yet,  long  sought  but  never  found. 

This  marriage  ring  a  vasty  circle  grows 
To  bind  the  planet  with  its  golden  round. 


94 


PEACE  AND  WAR 
1914 

HOW  long  must  saner  Peace  from  her  calm 
height 
Behold  War's  angry  front,  the  face  to  face, 
The  volleyed  hell,  the  fall,  the  empty  place 
Refilled  that  yet  again  in  frenzied  fight 
Brothers  may  murder?     Stay!  or  Reason's  night. 
Descending  on  the  warrior  and  his  race. 
Darkens  the  turning  to  that  old  disgrace 
Wherefrom  the  savage  rose  into  the  light. 

O  ye  that  hold  for  Peace  her  citadel. 

Her  lofty  look  on  heights,  and  hollows  low 
Serried  with  armies  swarming  to  and  fro! 
From  every  tower  voice  to  a  blinded  world 
Your  better  sight !    Let  Reason  loud  foretell 
The  due  of  folly  on  the  nations  hurled. 


95 


FAITH 

THOUGH   dumb  to    every  questioning,  the 
tomb 
Deny  me  speech  with  all  I  buried  deep, 
Though  tears  avail  not  that  the  stilly  room 
Break  the  dead  silence  of  its  stony  keep, 
Let  my  weak  faith,  to  doubt  succumbing  never, 
Be  schooled  and  strengthened  for  some  nobler 
need 
In  worlds  whose  Truth  forever  and  forever 

Shall  hide  from  doubt's  dull  eye.     Faith  is  a 
seed 
Earth-sprung,   but   nurtured,   'neath    benignant 
skies, 
By  shine  and  shower  and  oft-recurring  dews. 
Toward  deathless  heaven  my  faith  should  stalwart 
rise 
And,  branching  starward>  no  far  reach  refuse. 
So  let  me  face  with  trust  the  unrevealed 
Till  fitter  times  make  known  the  doubly-sealed. 


% 


•  • 


SKY  WITNESSES 

WHAT  face  of   change   Earth  shows  con- 
tinually 

To  Heaven's  unchanging,  self-illumined  spheres! 

When  red  Arcturus,  headlong  star,  appears 
Urged  ever  by  a  hand  no  eye  can  see, 
And  night's  transcending  Pleiad  harmony. 

Finding  a  heart-string  tuned,  is  in  the  heart, 

And  girt  Orion  fills  his  hunter  part; 
Ah,  then  reversing  ages  carry  me 
To  Syrian  Uz  once  visited  by  these 

Whose  fires  shall  quiver  o'er  man's  latest  breath. 

Saw  they  the  stricken  Job  mourn  tardy  death. 
And  sorry  comforters  give  naught  of  ease? 

Knew  they  when  from  the  whirlwind  came  the 
Word, 

The  Justice  and  Compassion  of  the  Lord  ? 


97 


THE  PLEIADES 

**The  sweet  influence  of  Pleiades." 

HEAVEN'S   high    interpreters;    would    your 
sweet  theme, 
Subduing  discord's  every  element, 
Make  this  harsh  Earth  a  pliant  instrument 
To  mingle  with  man's  pure  millenial  dream? 
Each  string  of  your  harp's  seven   a  star  doth 
stream; 
Far  as  this  world  each  star  of  seven  hath  sent 
Her  beams,  concordant  seven,  with  love-intent, 
And  into  seven  is  cloven  every  beam. 

Primaeval  harp !   ere  Earth  was  clothed  in  clay, 

What  sangest  thou  to  vaster,  elder  spheres? 
What  peoples  in  that  vanished  yesterday 
Drank  all  thy  message  with  entranced  ears? 
And  dost  thou,  for  unshapen  worlds  to  be, 
Withhold  some  chord  of  moving  euphony? 


ID   ^b^i-:/ 


336127 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


wm- 


